How to Eat With the Seasons: A Simple Guide to Seasonal Eating

Seasonal eating doesn’t have to be hard; in fact, it can actually be pretty easy if you just do a little research before your next produce trip. Luckily, you’ve landed in the right place. In this post, I’m going to share how to eat with the seasons, what’s in season right now, and why I love to eat seasonally.

Why Seasonal Eating is a Good Idea

We can pretty much get just about any fruit or vegetable at any time of the year– so why should we eat with the seasons?

It Tastes Better

Fruits and vegetables that are in season are fresher. They’ve had time to ripen on the vine, instead of in the store, and they didn’t have to travel across the country (or from another country for that matter), to get to you. That’s why strawberries taste much better in the spring and early summer than they do in the fall.

When something is out of season, it is picked much sooner to account for shipping times. When it’s in season, it’s typically harvested at its peak ripeness– meaning it will taste much better! Some studies even suggest that fruits and vegetables that have time to ripen on the vine contain more nutrients; a win, win!

It Costs Less

Yep, you read that right. Eating in season foods will actually cost you less money because the produce didn’t have to travel as far to get to you. It’s better for you and it’s better for the farmers!

It Supports Local Farmers

Speaking of farmers, eating with the seasons allows you to purchase produce from local farmers, which helps the farmers, supports your community and helps your local economy.

I also love purchasing local whenever I can because it’s cool knowing what you’re eating came from just down the road! You can actually talk with the farmers and find out how your food was grown, too.

How to Eat Seasonally

Like I mentioned before, seasonal eating can be easy– it can even be fun! Here’s how you can get started with seasonal eating:

• Learn what’s in season (see my list below!)
• Shop local by going to Farmer’s Markets or by joining a CSA Program (Community Supported Agriculture)
• Have fun with it by trying new fruits and vegetables and experimenting with new recipes (I’m going to be sharing a lot of recipes here using fresh, seasonal ingredients– so check back often!)

Find a local Farmer’s Markets

Find a CSA Program near you

What’s in Season?

Although these lists will vary depending on your state and time of season, this is a great starting point.  Just like anything else, seasonal eating takes time to learn; you won’t be perfect at it right away. You can start to learn and memorize which of your favorite fruits and vegetables are typically available during which time of year and grow from there.

For a more accurate list based on what month it is and your specific state, I recommend seasonalfoodguide.org. I have their app on my phone, and it makes seasonal eating a breeze!

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Year-Round

bananas, beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, chard, most herbs, kale, leeks, lemons, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, spinach, sprouts, winter squash

Spring

Fruit: grapefruit, kiwi, lemons, strawberries

Veggies: artichokes, arugula, asparagus, avocados, beets, cabbage, fennel, fiddleheads, leeks, new potatoes, peas, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, turnips

Summer

Fruit: apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cantaloupe, figs, grapes, honeydew, limes, lychees, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries, watermelon

Veggies: basil, bell pepper, corn, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, herbs, new potatoes, peas, okra, tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini

Fall

Fruit: apples, cranberries, limes, pears, persimmons, pomegranate

Veggies: acorn squash, artichokes, arugula, brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, edamame, eggplant, fennel, pecans, peppers, pumpkin, shallots, sweet potatoes, turnips

Winter

Fruit: clementines, grapefruit, kiwi, lemons, mandrain oranges, oranges, persimmons, pomelo, tangerines

Veggies: beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, fennel, kale, parsnips, turnips

Why I love eating with the seasons

I truly believe seasonal eating is better for me, better for the environment (because things aren’t having to be shipped all over), and just a lot more fun!

I love trying new recipes and playing around with seasonal ingredients. Eating with the seasons allows me to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to cooking, save money on fresh produce and eat tastier fruits and veggies year round. Yes, please!

That being said, there are some fruits and veggies I keep in my diet year-round (like certain types of greens!) and that’s okay, too. The point of seasonal eating isn’t to keep you from eating corn in the winter and strawberries in the fall; the point is to be more mindful of what’s in season, so that you can choose tastier produce, shop local as much as possible, lower your carbon footprint, and have more fun with the foods you’re consuming!