Summer Produce Is The Best!
Although I love vegetables from each season, nothing is better than local summer produce! It may take a little planning to eat in season but it feels so good when you do! The berries are so sweet, the lettuces refreshing, zucchinis juicy and I feel the herbs detoxing me as I chew! Really!
Eat in season? That sounds hard. Why should I?
- It tastes better! Each day that produce travels, it loses moisture, nutrients and flavor. Seasonal and local produce have less travel time.
- It’s more nutritious! Less travel time = less nutrients lost!
- There’s a purpose for each season! Food is meant to detox in the spring, cool in the summer, nourish our internal dryness in the fall and warm us up in the winter. Now it makes sense, right?!
- It’s cheaper! It is more abundant so it is less costly!
- Local Farmers! Support them!
- Eco-friendly! Less gas, less pollution = everyone wins!
Tips For Eating in Season
- Visit your local farmers markets…it is fun at any age! Click here to find one in your area: http://search.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/
- Look for the “Local” signs at grocery stores. Also, if you notice that the prices are trending down, it is in season. If the produce is becoming more expensive, it is on its way out!
- Check out this website for a list of what is in season in your area: http://www.sustainabletable.org/seasonalfoodguide/
So, what’s in season now?
Every part of the country has different seasonal vegetables but this is a general list.
Vegetables
• Arugula
• Basil
• Beans (Green/Snap)
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Chard
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Garlic
• Green Onions
• Greens (Collards)
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Mint
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Peas
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Summer Squash
Fruit
• Apples
• Apricots
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Melons
• Peaches
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
Background with a Little SOUL
Traditional Chinese Medicine is very near to our hearts. We took Whitney to China to see a doctor at the end of her life. Our trip to Beijing taught us a lot about Traditional Chinese Medicine and it was such a gift. Food is medicine and eating in seasonal helps detox and cleanse our organs as well as allows them to naturally heal. Each food item has a “temperature” which is the cooling or warming property of that food. Here is what should belong on your plate during our four seasons.
- Spring foods cleanse our bodies from the heavier winter foods that we have ingested. Produce such as leafy greens, asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, chives, parsley and basil all aid in detoxing our system. Quinoa and legumes are light and great for pairing with these spring favorites!
- Summer foods are cooling for our bodies. Sweet and juicy fruit like berries, mangos, pineapples, papayas and watermelon. Vegetables such as tomatoes, summer squash, cauliflower, peppers, celery, and corn.
- Fall foods nourish our body’s internal dryness. Amazing root vegetables are so sweet and perfect for soups, stuffing or roasting. Fruit like apples, pears and figs are perfect this time of year. Vegetables such as eggplant, winter squashes, carrots, potatoes, garlic, onions and dark leafy greens are what should be on our plate. We usually also start to consume more grains so try to aim for whole grains.
- Winter foods are hearty and keep us warm. Root vegetables, onions, garlic, leeks, beets, dark leafy greens and potatoes are great for this time of year. Add them to soups with a whole grain and mix in dark beans.
Pasta Primavera
Homemade Chicken Burgers
Fruit Salad with Coconut Sorbet
Enjoy eating in season!
BELIEVE!
Tracy
