There are several benefits of eating seasonally, including getting the most nutritious food possible, supporting local farmers, savings for your budget, and aligning with how our bodies were meant to function throughout the seasons.

What is Seasonal Eating?
Seasonal Eating refers to eating foods that are currently growing or are “in-season”. For example, broccoli and cabbage are cool weather crops and therefore are typically in-season in the spring and fall/winter. Tomatoes and peppers are warm weather crops and are in-season in the summer.
This might change slightly depending on your location and climate. For example, I live in Ohio. We have fairly cold winters, usually seeing negative temperatures a few times. In the summers, we see temperatures commonly reaching into the 90’s Fahrenheit. We have wet and cool spring weather until it just flips and feels like summer all of a sudden. All of these characteristics of our climate lead to specific crops being in-season at different points of the year than say, someone living in Florida.
How Can I Start Eating Seasonally?
I first suggest doing a little research into what produce items are seasonal in your specific area. If you live in a similar climate to me (central Ohio, zone 6), pop over to my post here where I discuss warm season and cool season crops. That way, when you visit the grocery stores, you can easily choose to purchase items currently in season!
One of my favorite ways to eat seasonally is to shop at the local farmers market. Local farmers are going to have a really good idea of what crops will grow and thrive in your climate. Purchasing what they are selling is a great way to get fresh seasonal produce.
However, the absolute best way to get all the benefits from eating seasonally is to grow your own garden! Picking produce from your backyard and bringing it in to prepare for you and your family that same day will yield the most nutrient dense and fresh food! If you are able to grow something in your backyard, then it is likely in-season.

What are the Benefits of Eating Seasonally?
Eating produce that is in season is the best option for many reasons. When produce is in season, it is the freshest and most nutrient dense it can possibly be. Seasonal produce tends to go on sale at the stores and it is available at local farmers’ markets. That means savings for your budget and supporting local growers: win win! Additionally, our bodies were actually designed to eat with the changing seasons and we get several benefits from eating seasonally!
Eating Seasonally is the Healthiest Option
You have probably had the experience of biting into a tomato from the grocery store in the winter (actually any time of the year) and been disappointed by the non-existent flavor. Tomatoes are going to be more flavorful when grown in the best conditions, real sunlight, fresh rainwater, and rich soil! That flavor is also directly correlated to nutrient density as well!
Produce that is available at the grocery store is likely not grown near you. It might not even be grown in the country you live in. It may not have even been grown in real sunlight. Additionally, in order for that produce to make it all the way across the country (or across the world), and arrive looking fresh, ripe, and appealing to consumers, many chemicals and waxes are applied to the produce to maintain that look of freshness. Because of the common lengthy journey this produce must make to get to your local store, it is usually harvested before it is fully ripe, leaving it lacking in flavor and nutrients.
This is why locally grown, in-season produce contains infinitely more nutritional value and flavor than produce from the grocery store, purchased out of season.

Seasonal Eating is Budget Friendly
When certain crops are in-season, they grow in abundance. This means that farmers usually have a lot to harvest and are willing to sell it at a lower cost to the consumer. This leads to discounts at grocery stores and at farmers’ markets as well! Even if you aren’t growing your own garden, this is a great way to buy large quantities of produce to preserve and put back for seasons when that item is not in-season or available locally.
Shopping at a farmer’s market is a fantastic way to show your support for the local growers in your area. Even as someone who grows their own garden, I still love visiting the farmer’s market to support the local farmers and purchase things that I am not growing in my own garden. Many vendors at the farmer’s market are local small businesses. Who doesn’t love to support their local small business economy!?
Our Bodies are Designed to Eat Seasonally
Before we had the infrastructure to transport food across the country (and the world), people only ate local, seasonal foods. If it wasn’t growing near you, you weren’t eating it until it was the right time of the year.
The cyclical nature of the seasons and seasonal produce is naturally supportive for our bodies. Our nutritional needs throughout the year fit with what seasonal produce can offer. It is also why many people love warm and hearty soups and stews in the winter months. Traditional “cook-out” foods in the summertime include lots of fresh ingredients like corn-on-the-cob, fruit salads, pasta salads, and other things that are made with seasonally fresh produce.
Melons, cucumbers, and summer squashes are full of water and other hydrating vitamins and minerals. Perfect for the hotter summer months when hydration is extremely vital to our survival. Potatoes, carrots, onions, root vegetables, and winter squashes are extremely hearty and provide warming fuel to keep us alive and sustained throughout the cold winter months. While those items are actually grown in the summer and fall, they are designed to store over winter months. However, melons and cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, and other warm season crops are not designed to store long term, in their natural state (preservation techniques can allow you to enjoy those items year round).

More Information
I hope this helps simplify seasonal eating and makes you feel like you can jump in and try it out! Also remember, these are not hard and fast rules. It’s not like eating produce out of season is bad for you. Fruit and veggies are always a great choice for your health, no matter what time of year. Use this as more of a guide to inspire you in your meal planning. Or look at seasonal items when deciding which produce to focus on incorporating at different times of the year!
If you’re ready to grow a garden, check out my post on some of the easiest things to grow here. If you want to garden, but are worried about your budget, check out my post on saving money gardening here.
I hope you enjoyed this peek into Life at Metzger Acres!

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