In recent years awareness of the importance of sustainable food production and food waste reduction has grown. Many of us are now rethinking our food choices as a result. One powerful way to reduce your food waste is through "seasonal eating". Aligning what you eat with natural growing cycles, helps the environment and also improves the nutrition levels and flavour of your food.
Understanding Seasonal Eating
Seasonal eating simply means choosing foods that are currently in season, in your local area. For example, eating strawberries in late spring/summer and eating butternut squash in Autumn. When you eat seasonally, you will avail of enjoy locally produced, fresher, tastier and more nutritious food. This is far better for your health than eating foreign produce that is not only out of season but has travelled for days/weeks and been artificially ripened.
Buying seasonal produce supports you local small farmer and reduces greenhouse gases associated with transporting food over long distances. This approach also helps us to connect our food choices with the environment, giving us a deeper understanding and appreciation for what we eat and where it comes from.
There is something deeply satisfying about eating locally produced food, it's hard to explain in words but we all know that feeling!
Benefits of Seasonal Eating
1. Reduced Food Waste
Seasonal fruits and vegetables are typically at their peak freshness. For example, the vegetables I get in my veg box literally stay fresh for weeks, while vegetables from the supermarket go off within days. Research shows that 30 to 40% of all food produced globally, is lost or wasted. By focusing on what’s in season, and therefore selecting the very freshest food, you can significantly decrease your food waste.
2. Enhanced Flavour and Nutrition
Seasonal produce offers far superior flavour and nutrition. For example, tomatoes harvested in summer are naturally sweeter and more nutrient-dense compared to those picked in winter and forced to ripen artificially. This means you not only enjoy wonderful, vibrant tasting food but also you provide your body with higher-quality nutrients. The concept of "nutrient density" is a new and growing area of study but it's easy to imagine, and seems intuitively correct, that "in season", locally produced vegetables are better for you.
3. Lower Environmental Impact
By choosing seasonal produce, you reduce reliance on imported foods that carry a higher carbon footprint due to transportation. Local foods will usually require less energy for cultivation, fertilisation and distribution.
4. Supporting your Local Small Farmers
Choosing to buy seasonal foods supports our local farmers, local biodiversity and natural ecosystems. It can be more expensive for sure, but the food you get will be of a much higher quality and will not go off as easily, so you save money by reducing your food waste.
Practical Tips for Embracing Seasonal Eating
1. Find out what's in season in your area
To successfully embrace seasonal eating, it helps to know what crops are available in your area throughout the year. For example, StopFoodWaste.ie produce a seasonal food guide for Ireland (https://stopfoodwaste.ie/resources/seasonal-calendar-planning-shopping). Alternatively, if you just shop for your vegetables at your local farmer’s markets or use a local farm veg box service, you will be buying seasonal produce. There are a growing number of local farmer’s markets, so try to find out what day it's on in your area, and do your veg shopping (and meal planning!) on that day.
2. Get Creative with your Cooking
Seasonal eating is an opportunity to be more creative in the kitchen. It forces you to try new recipes and maybe eat vegetables that you don't usually choose. For example, fresh beetroot, roasted and served with goats cheese and toasted pecans is absolutely delicious!
3. Grow Your Own
There is nothing like growing your own food to reconnect you with nature and the seasons. I currently grow my own herbs but I'm committed to expanding my "Kitchen Garden" next year and try my hand at some carrots and potatoes at least!
By embracing seasonal eating, you can significantly reduce food waste, improve the flavour and nutrition of meals, reduce your environmental impact and contribute to the development of a healthier food system for us all.
Seasonal eating also gives you and your family, a deeper connection to the food you consume and the environment around you.
Comments