Seasonal Eating: Winter

Photo courtesy of the author

Planning your meals and shopping according to what's in season has a multitude of benefits.  There is, of course, the obvious health benefits of working fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Buying produce in season is also relatively inexpensive, you get fruits and veggies that are at their peek flavor and if you're able to shop locally, it supports farmers and your community.  Eating seasonally is also a way to help keep yourself in tune with nature and the turning of the wheel of the year.

In the winter, people tend to eat hardier meals and often forget about keeping fresh produce in their menus. Knowing what's in season can help you in your meal planning.  Produce will vary somewhat by location.

Winter Produce Selections:

Vegetables

• cabbages
• leeks
• turnips
• radishes
• broccoli
• potatoes
• cauliflower
• brussel sprouts
• carrots
• celery
• onions
• leeks
• winter greens (Spinach, Arugula, Lettuce, Kale, Swiss Chard, Collards)
• mushrooms
• shallots
• sweet potatoes

Fruits

• oranges
• grapefruit
• apples
• tangerines
• tangelos
• lemons
• papayas
• winter squash (butternut, pumpkin, acorn, spaghetti)
• plums

Seasonal produce can be easily and simply be added into your cooking rotation.  Squash, turnips, potatoes and sweet potatoes can be baked, roasted, boiled and mashed.  Add winter greens to salads, or quickly wilt in a pan with a bit of olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper as a simple side dish. A simple search of any cooking website will bring you a multitude of recipes for each ingredient.

Take advantage of all the benefits of eating winter produce.  You body, spirit and wallet will thank you.

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