The Science of Seasonal Foods

You might have heard people say that it's better to eat fruits and vegetables when they are in season.  So what does "in season" mean, and what does science have to say about it?  Well, both of those questions actually have pretty straightforward answers.

"In season" means during the season of the year where the fruit or vegetable is at its most ripe.  Basically, nutrients in food are at their highest peak when the fruit is at its ripest.  When you are eating fruit that is grown locally, it is picked closer to the time of actual ripeness.  Foods that are not in season are often flown in from other areas of the world.  Most transported foods have to harvested long before they are ripe to avoid spoiling, meaning that it doesn't reach peak ripeness and flavor.  (However, if you can't get seasonal fruit and veggies or want to eat out of season food, don't worry!  All fruits and veggies are still very nutritious!)

Eating seasonally has other benefits too.  One of them is that you get a wide variety of foods in your diet throughout the year.  No single food can provide all of the vitamins and minerals that you need, so eating a varied diet is important for your body.  Eating a varied diet even reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases!

From an environmental standpoint, eating seasonally is better for the Earth.  Foods that are in season are usually easier to get without having to ship them long distances, which reduces the environmental impact from fuel emissions and refrigeration.  This also contributes to making local, in season food less expensive.  When there's a lot of a food available in the store (because it's in season), they can charge less for it.

Here's what's in season in December:
Beets
Cabbage
Carrots
Citrus Fruits
Horseradish
Leeks
Onions
Sprouts
Turnips
Winter squash

Happy, healthy eating!