the benefits of seasonal eating (for you and the planet!)
One of the most natural concepts of eating is that of consuming locally grown and seasonally appropriate fresh foods. Below I’ve outlined 5 reasons why you should shift to local, seasonal eating as much as possible (for your health and the planet’s!).
nutrient deficiencies
A lot of the time we get stuck in routines of eating the same foods over and over again, because it's often easier to stick with what we're comfortable with, rather than try something new. While I always encourage getting comfortable with certain foods in the kitchen (so you find more ease here), we also need to be willing to change with the seasons of age, weather, and availability.
If we don’t, nutrient deficiencies can occur.
Every food has its own nutrient profile, meaning that each is high in certain minerals, vitamins and nutrients and low in others. Therefore if you continue to eat the same foods week in and week out, you may have an abundance of some nutrients and a lack of others.
One of the most amazing things about our earth is the variety of foods it provides, and the variety of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals abundant in each of these foods. Every food has its own nutrient profile, meaning that each is high in certain minerals, vitamins and nutrients and low in others. Therefore if you continue to eat the same foods week in and week out, you may have an abundance of some nutrients and a lack of others.
If instead we focus on a variety of seasonal foods, our environment will provide us with the best nutrients to support our health and keep us in balance.
it’s the most natural way of eating
Eating foods that are available seasonally and grown locally keeps us attuned to earth and the cycles of nature. Our environment provides the best foods to support our health and keep us in balance, and therefore eating seasonally provides the right type of fuel.
Eating foods that are available seasonally and grown locally keeps us attuned to earth and the cycles of nature. Our environment provides the best foods to support our health and keep us in balance, and therefore eating seasonally provides the right type of fuel.
When we think about our ancestors and their eating patterns, it makes sense! The concept of having certain foods available year-round due to today's shipping and commercial processes just didn't exist back then. Instead, our ancestors relied on what was available in their backyard, and thrived off it, without the oh-so common chronic disease we see today.
For example, summer months are a time of growth and activity which requires a lighter diet and fresher, higher water content foods to keep us hydrated and refreshed. We see this mirrored in the environment as in the hottest months, the juiciest fruits (berries, watermelon, peaches and plums), are available which help to cool the body. In the fall and winter on the other hand we are often at home more, resting and recharging, and are craving richer, heavier, and more warming foods. Likewise in our environment, we’ll see this is the time dense foods like sweet potatoes and squash are being harvested, which are best prepared roasted or baked.
reduced pesticides
Imported produce is usually out of season, and this produce is often heavily treated for easier shipping, and so that the food appears fresh when it gets to the grocery store. There is also the risk of higher toxicity from the use of chemicals that have been banned here in Canada.
Eating seasonally and locally allows us to get the freshest and potentially cleanest produce, as the timeline from field to table is shorter, and fewer chemicals are needed to store and ship the produce.
Furthermore, fruits and vegetables are best eaten as fresh as possible, so when we’re eating food that’s been in a shipping container for two weeks, we can see why this may not be our best option!
Eating seasonally and locally allows us to get the freshest and potentially cleanest produce, as the timeline from field to table is shorter, and fewer chemicals are needed to store and ship the produce.
more eco-friendly
When produce is shipped from around the world so that it’s available in our big box grocery stores, it requires a chain of planes/ trains/ and automobiles which of course adds to the fossil fuels and furthers climate change.
Simply choosing seasonal foods means less steps to get the food from field to table, and in turn means there is less of an impact on the environment.
more economical
Choosing foods that are in-season will almost always be cheaper because there is an abundance of them.
When suppliers are easily able to meet customer demand, it drives price down, whereas if you’re looking to purchase out-of-season foods that have to be shipped from another country, there’s less supply and more work involved, and the price subsequently goes up.
final thoughts
Visit your local farmer's market and get familiar with what's in season. Then, see how you can incorporate those ingredients into your meals!
Remember: every step you take is powerful and makes an impact, so don't overwhelm yourself!
Remember: every step you take is powerful and makes an impact, so don't overwhelm yourself!
However, make an intentional effort where you can to see what you can do to lean into seasonal and local eating.
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about the author
Hey there! I’m Jasmine, founder of the Sustainable Bliss Collective, a Certified Meditation Teacher, and lover of all things self-care, slow-living, and personal development.
I believe that ambition and self-care can coexist, and as such I hope to encourage and inspire you to take care of yourself, breathe deeply, connect with who you are, manifest your dreams, enjoy the blissful moments of each day, and make an impact in this beautiful world we call home.
Connect with me on Instagram here!
