What Does Sustainable Seasonal Eating Mean?

Eating foods that are in season has been a practice at my parents household since I can remember. They and their neighbours all started creating sustainable communities by reforming their grass yards into fruit and vegetable gardens! I never had fresh salads or strawberries during winter, as I was told the taste is not the same. Fast forward 20+ years, I live abroad in the Netherlands and suddenly everything is available all the time. Strawberries in winter, fresh salads, even mangoes at all times, I was so happy at first till I tasted the harsh truth. Food travels but I have to admit taste doesn’t. Seasonal eating relates not only to the taste, also to the “perfect” shapes of the fruits and vegetable and the miles they travelled. Creating sustainable eating habits and communities not only enhances our culinary experience but also supports our health and environmental impact.

But what exactly does it mean to eat seasonally, and why is it so important? My comprehensive guide explores the concept of seasonal eating and how you can incorporate it into your daily life by creating a sustainable food future.

What Is Seasonal Eating?

Seasonal eating is actually quite simple and it refers to consuming products that are harvested at their peak during specific times of the year. This practice aligns your diet with the natural growing cycles of fruits and vegetables, ensuring that you eat produce when it’s freshest and most nutritious.

The Benefits of Eating Seasonally

Eating seasonally offers numerous advantages as you are moving with the natural cycle of food. Once you have created a sustainable eating habit you can enjoy some of the key benefits:

Enhanced Flavor and Nutrition

Fruits and vegetables that are harvested in season are with no doubt fresher and tastier. They reach their peak ripeness naturally, without the help of green houses resulting in better flavor and higher nutritional value compared to out-of-season produce. This means you get more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from your food.

Reduced Exposure to Pesticides

Local and seasonal produce often requires fewer pesticides and chemicals compared to out-of-season produce that must be transported long distances. This can reduce your exposure to potentially harmful substances and work towards creating a sustainable food future.

Environmental Sustainability

By eating seasonally, you reduce the demand for out-of-season produce that requires significant resources for cultivation and transportation. This practice helps lower your carbon footprint and supports local farming communities.

Sustainable Farming Practices

Many small, local farms use sustainable farming practices that are better for the environment. Often they create sustainable communities and by supporting these farms, you contribute to the health of the ecosystem.

Cost-Effectiveness

Seasonal produce is often more affordable because it is more abundant and doesn’t require long-distance shipping or extensive storage that at the end customer is paying for. Eating in season allows you to enjoy high-quality fruits and vegetables without breaking the bank.

Understanding the Seasons and Their Produce

To eat seasonally, it’s important to understand which foods are available during different times of the year in your part of the world. Below is a brief overview of seasonal produce by season in Europe, where we are based. Even in Europe we have six climatic regions: Arctic, Atlantic, Boreal, Continental, Mediterranean and Mountain. As different types of fruits and vegetables grow better in different climates, you will start understanding that some fruits and vegetables are in season in some countries, while they are not in others.

Spring

Fruits: 

Strawberries, apples, pears, apricots, cherries, and rhubarb

Vegetables: 

Asparagus, beetroot, carrots, lettuce, peas, radishes, and spinach

Summer

Fruits: 

Berries, peaches, plums, figs, grapes, prunes and melons

Vegetables: 

Tomatoes, zucchini, aubergines, cucumbers, and bell peppers

Fall

Fruits: 

Apples, pears, grapes, quinces and cranberries

Vegetables: 

Squash, pumpkins, broad beans, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli and kale

Winter

Fruits: 

Oranges, clementines, mandarines, grapefruits, pomegranates, cranberries and kiwis

Vegetables: 

Brussels sprouts, artichokes, cauliflower, leeks, cabbages, mushrooms and root vegetables

How to Incorporate Seasonal Eating into Your Diet

Adopting a seasonal eating pattern can be simple and rewarding once you get the hang of it. In the long run we would like you to focus your attention to creating a sustainable food future, where local produce can be easily available for everyone. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Visit Local Farmers’ Markets and Small Shops

Farmers’ markets and your local small shop are a great place to find fresh, seasonal produce. They offer a variety of fruits and vegetables that are harvested locally, ensuring peak freshness and supporting local agriculture. The best part? You know where your food is coming from!

Check the Prices at Your Local Store

Once you go to the store, keep a close eye on the prices of fruits and vegetables. Those can be a very quick indicator if the food has travelled miles to get to your local store. When its lower, yes this product is in season in your area. If its high, yes you guessed it, you just paid the gas price as well.

Join a CSA Program

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs connect consumers directly with farmers. By subscribing to a CSA, you receive regular deliveries of seasonal produce, often including unique and heirloom varieties that you might not find in supermarkets. Think apple farms for example, you can adopt your own tree and enjoy the harvest with your family.

Grow Your Own Garden

If you have the space and resources, consider growing your own garden. This allows you to harvest produce at its peak and gain a deeper appreciation for the growing process. You can even do it together with your neighbours and create your own sustainable community. Plus, gardening can be a therapeutic and rewarding hobby.

Turn Your Balcony Into a Garden

Having little space is no longer an excuse not to eat seasonally with nature. You can start simple with growing your own spices. There are so many beautiful individuals that focus on urban farming, one of my favorite is thefrenchiegardener on TikTok:

Tips for Cooking and Storing Seasonal Produce

Once you have your seasonal produce, it’s important to know how to cook and store it to maximize its benefits:

Cooking Tips

• Keep it Simple: Fresh, seasonal produce often requires minimal preparation. Simple cooking methods like grilling, roasting, and steaming can highlight their natural flavors.
• Experiment with Recipes: Try new recipes that feature seasonal ingredients. This keeps your meals interesting and helps you discover new favorites.

Our family has a new favorite Summer’s Watermelon Salad:

Ingredients:

Seasoning: oil/salt/lemon juice – on taste

Storage Tips for Creating Sustainable Food Future

• Refrigerate Wisely: Some fruits and vegetables should be stored in the refrigerator, while others are best kept at room temperature. Research the best storage methods for each type of produce to extend its freshness and of course take into consideration the degrees of where you live.
• Preserve the Harvest: Consider preserving excess produce by fermenting, pickling, canning, freezing, or drying. This allows you to enjoy seasonal flavors even when they are out of season. In another article we will explore in depth fermenting season.

The Cultural Significance of Seasonal Eating

Seasonal eating connects you to cultural traditions and culinary heritage. I come from Bulgaria, a country where fermentation has been a part of our culture and traditions for centuries. For example we make the best yogurt worldwide and you can learn as well in our article. Food has that power to create sustainable communities.

Seasonal Festivals and Traditions

Bulgarians are not the only ones, many cultures celebrate the harvest with festivals and traditions centered around seasonal foods. Participating in these events can enrich your cultural experience and appreciation for seasonal produce. Have you heard about La Tomatina in Spain?

Culinary Diversity

Exploring seasonal foods allows you to experience the culinary diversity of different countries and their diverse regions. Each season brings unique flavors and dishes that can broaden your culinary horizons.

Challenges of Seasonal Eating

While there are many benefits, there are also challenges to seasonal eating:

Limited Availability

Depending on where you live, certain seasonal produce may not be available year-round. This can make it challenging to maintain a completely seasonal diet.

Planning and Preparation

Eating seasonally requires planning and preparation. You need to know what’s in season and be prepared to cook and store seasonal produce properly. If you feel your are prepared we can challenge you for a vegan fast (detox) 2 times a year, you can check our view on it.

Resources for Seasonal Eating

To help you get started with seasonal eating, here are some valuable resources:

• Foodness Gracious: Articles and recipes focused on seasonal eating.
• Almanac: Seasonal eating tips and guides.
• Savery Grazing: A blog dedicated to seasonal eating.
• WebMD: Health information and benefits of seasonal eating.

Conclusion

Eating foods that are in season is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your diet, support local agriculture, and reduce your environmental impact. By aligning your eating habits with the natural growing cycles of produce, you can enjoy fresher, tastier, and more nutritious meals. Embrace the practice of seasonal eating and discover the numerous benefits it brings to your health, your wallet, and the planet.

References:

https://www.eufic.org/en/explore-seasonal-fruit-and-vegetables-in-europe

https://www.latomatinatours.com

https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-seasonal-eating

https://saverygrazing.com/blog/seasonal-eating-guide/

https://www.almanac.com/eating-seasons

https://foodnessgracious.com/articles/seasonal-eating

http://www.eattheseasons.com/index.php