Eating seasonally was a necessity in times past, but today it is easy to take for granted the wide availability of food. These days you can buy just about anything at any time in your local supermarket. A lot of the produce is grown in greenhouses and even more is grown in other parts of the world in order to provide consumers with exactly what they want, when they want it. This has led to a disconnection between foods and their proper seasons for many people.
It isn’t just produce that has seasons – other foods are traditionally seasonal as well. Fresh milk, yogurt, and young cheeses were consumed only in Spring and Summer because they simply were not available during the Winter. Aged cheeses were made in Spring and Summer and eaten in Winter during the time when the family cow was not in milk. Meats were not always available year round either.
We are designed to eat seasonally, and we digest better and feel healthier if we choose foods when they are naturally in season. Our bodies need variety, and changing our diets with the seasons is an important part of keeping our digestive systems functioning well. It also helps with keeping food fun and exciting – you can’t get bored with the same old flavors if they are changing all the time. Check out your local farmer’s market and see what foods are in season today!