seasonal eating 🍊🥦 🍋

AND my new go to lemon elixir beverage!

“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.” - Lewis Grizzard

Is there really anything better than biting into a crisp juicy apple in the fall or picking sweet ripened raspberries right off the bush in the summer? And I’m not usually an apple person, but come September every morning I go outside to pick an apple fresh off the tree. I find myself craving the fruits and vegetables that are in season and it turns out there are quite a few benefits to eating with the seasons.

1. Seasonal produce is fresher AND tastier AND healthier!

Since the produce you buy in grocery stores travels a very long distance to reach our plates, it is usually picked before ripe and starts aging on the trip. It can even be dyed to get the vibrant colors of naturally ripened fruits. If you compare freshly grown to store bought you’ll probably notice a difference in color, look, and taste. Since local, in season fruits & veggies are picked fresh, they contain more nutrients and are therefore healthier. Antioxidants such as vitamin c and folate decline when stored for long periods of time. Produce from grocery stores usually contain preservatives to extend the shelf life which can contribute to certain food sensitivities.

2. It saves you money and supports the community!

Seasonal foods are often less expensive because there is more of an abundance. There are also less travel and storage related expenses added to the production costs which saves you money. But, you aren’t the only one that benefits. When you purchase food from local farmers, the money stays in your community, boosting the local economy and creating more jobs. The next time you think of heading to a big chain supermarket for your produce, try out the local farmers markets instead and support your community.

3. Gives you a variety in your diet and supports your body!

Our bodies need a wide variety of nutrients to stay functioning and healthy, so switching up your fruits and veggies with the seasons is beneficial to you. And it’s no coincidence that the in season produce helps to support our bodies natural nutrient needs. It’s nature’s way of providing us with exactly what we need and when. For example, citrus is abundant during winter ➡️ winter is associated with an increase in sicknesses ➡️ citrus fruits contain lots of vitamin c which helps to boost immunity. Fall and winter have more vegetables that are used in stews, soups, and casseroles to keep you warm in the colder months whereas summer has more cool and refreshing produce with higher levels of water to keep us hydrated during the hotter months. Summer foods also provide more beta-carotene and other carotenoids to help protect us against the sun.

4. It is more sustainable!

Demand for out of season produce would decline if we all ate seasonal. That’s means the need for transportation, refrigeration, greenhouse gasses, preservatives, and more would also decrease. Buying in season means less pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides to deplete the soil and contaminate our water. Another health benefit. While it’s not always possible to eat seasonal local produce, just become more aware and make decisions that are better for your wallet, health, and environment when you can.

---

Below I shared some of the my seasonal produce favorites for each season. Feel free to save to come back and reference later :)

And now for my new favorite beverage. I did not come up with this recipe on my own. It is from @thejenjones on TikTok, but I tried it recently and it was too good not to share.

Lemon Elixir (makes ~3 servings)

• 1 whole lemon peel and all

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons honey

• Ginger cube (optional)

• 3 cups water

• Blend and strain

• Top with cinnamon

Let’s chat:

What is your favorite fruit and vegetable?

Which season contains your favorite produce?

Have you tried the lemon elixir? Or do you plan on trying in?

What are your favorite seasonal produce recipes?

-Leanna