You may have heard about the importance of eating locally, this fits in naturally with the idea of eating seasonally.  

Eating foods that are in season helps to keep us attuned to the Earth and the cycles of nature. It helps reduce allergies when we consume our local foods. Another benefit to eating foods that are in season, is the lower cost of our grocery bill. In season foods are more abundant, thus less expensive. 

When you think about it, it just makes sense. We have an abundance of juicy fruits available to us in the summer helping to hydrate and cool us with little to no food preparation. While in the winter, most available foods require cooking and gives us warmth at mealtimes.  

We also get fresher food as there is less shipping distance, and foods are cleaner as well as preservatives are not required for local consumption.

Spring is a time for rejuvenation. It’s a great time to consider a detox, a fresh start. So many greens are available, and these chlorophyll-rich foods are the body’s best cleaners. As spring progresses, fresh fruit and vegetables increase and we start to leave the heavy foods of winter behind us. Spring is not only a great time to clean body, but a great time to clean house. Spring cleaning provides a newness, a lightness to our lives. Everything in spring feels lighter and brighter right down to our home and our bodies. As people become attuned to the seasons, they feel a natural instinct to do these things. It’s time to plant some new seeds.

Summer is a time for growth and activity. Refreshing, hydrating foods are needed to help our bodies cope with summer heat. Not to mention, lighter foods that don’t weight us down. Summer foods need little to no cooking and less food preparation. If a heavier meal is eaten, it should be left to cooler parts of the day. Instead, enjoy the abundance of fruit and vegetables through the day that allow you to be more active during the summer.

Autumn or fall is a big shift in climate and energy requiring a shift in diet. However, fall also offers an abundance of dietary options due to harvest season. Fall sees a gradual shift as the last of the summer fruits are harvested and the beginning of the root vegetables and squashes become available. Whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts are also harvested during this season. We start to shift our diet towards more cooked foods that are richer in protein and fat. We also make the shift of spending more time outdoors to spending time indoors.

Winter gives us pause and we crave rich warm foods to help our bodies stay warm. Foods require more preparation work and we often require more food to “feed our furnace” and generate more heat. However, winter is a time to be careful not to overeat. With a lack of activity and heartier foods, some weight gain would be considered normal as fat helps to keep the body warm. However, it should be easily shed in the spring with the awakening of movement and outdoor activity and the introduction of lighter foods. In winter we focus on foods that store well, whole grains, squashes, root vegetables.

As an essential part of an ideal diet, focus on eating seasonal foods in your area.

I am working on a seasonal menu plan package that will be available in the fall! Subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated! (Free gift with sign-up and in each newsletter!)