• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Seasonal Eats
    • Spring
    • Fall
    • Summer
    • Winter
    • Monthly Guide
  • Recipes
    • Drinks and Sides
    • Soups and Salads
    • Main Dishes
    • Desserts
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Fresh Coast Eats
    • Privacy Policy

Fresh Coast Eats logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Appetizers
  • Soups and Salads
  • Drinks and Sides
  • Main Dishes
  • Desserts
×

November 13, 2018 By Karen Leave a Comment

The Beginner’s Guide to Eating Seasonally

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet

The Beginner's Guide to Eating Seasonally: A complete guide to the benefits of seasonal eating and how you can get started, today!

bright red radishes at a farmstand

I will never forget the first time I went to a Southwest Michigan Vineyard, and tried a grape right off the vine. I was about 22, and up until that point I didn’t really give much thought to where my food came from or whether or not it was in season. But the moment I popped that perfectly ripened grape into my mouth I was completely blown away by the intense sweetness and flavor. I had never tasted anything like it, even though I had been eating grapes my entire life.

Eating freshly picked food tastes delicious, but the benefits of seasonal eating are so much greater than flavor. 

Eating seasonally is not a trend.  In fact, it is an extremely simple concept that has been lost in our globalized food system. Consumers can buy pretty much any produce they want, anytime of year because t's convenient, so we don't really question WHY or HOW we are able to buy strawberries in the middle of February ... we just do it. However, if you can look past the convenience of hot house grown veggies or fruits grown halfway across the world you will find seasonal eating has many benefits that go far beyond taste and it's easier than you think.

What does it mean to eat seasonally?

rainbow peppers are in season and displayed at a produce stand
ripened cucumbers at the farmers market
heirloom tomatos at a seasonal produce stand

Simply put, eating seasonally means produce that is purchased and consumed around the time that it is naturally harvested.  For example, eating strawberries in June, cherries in July and carrots in August.

What are the benefits of eating seasonally?

Seasonal Food

  • Tastes Better
  • Contains more nutrients
  • Lower Prices

Eating Seasonally

  • Is better for the enviroment
  • Supports your local community
  • Encourages creativeness in the kitchen

Common Questions Eating Seasonally

  • Why does seasonal food taste better?

    • Crops picked at the peak of ripeness, will have optimal sugars, moisture and nutrients. Food grown in a hot house or overseas is picked before it's prime, so it will ripen on it's journey to store shelves and loose moisture and quality of taste as it travels.
  • Why are seasonal foods more nutrient dense?

    • Fruits and Vegetables retain more nutrients when given the opportunity to fully ripen on their parent plants. The longer food sits on shelves, the more nutrients and antioxidents are lost. 
  • Why are seasonal foods cheaper?

    • Supply and demand! Eating produce that is in season locally and plentiful in quantity will drive prices down. If you are able to buy directly from the farmer, that's even better!
  • Why is eating seasonally better for the enviroment?

    • Seasonal foods that are grown locally require less energy to produce and transport. If you buy locally, you are also supporting farmers who grow food sustainably.
  • How does seasonal eating support community?

    • Eating seasonally creates connections between buyers and their local farmers. That money is often reinvested into the local economy and businesses, helping to grow and provide food that ends up on your neighbors plates.
  • How does seasonal eating encourage creativeness in the kitchen?

    • When you are planning meals around what produce is in season, you are enriching your palate ... not restricting it! By focusing on foods that are in season, you are more likely to try new varietals of your favorite fruits and veggies or maybe even something brand new!seasonal produce at a farmstand

So how do I get started eating seasonally?

  • Download our free seasonal produce printable guide here. (Coming soon!) Hang it on your fridge, put it in your planner and refer to it anytime you need some seasonal eating inspiration.
  • Check your local u-pick farms and local farmstands for the freshest seasonal produce you can get!
  • Join our email list and follow us on social media for seasonal inspiration delivered right to your inbox. 
  • Check out other produce-driven food blogs.  Some of my favorites include:
  • The Forest Feast  
  • Love and Lemons

The Best Roasted Rosemary Potatoes »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Karen! I’m a food stylist, photographer and recipe developer living in the Great Lakes area with my husband and four kids. I can’t wait for you to try my simple, clean, produce driven recipes inspired by the four seasons 

Learn more here! →

Trending Recipes

  • Nut Free Pesto
  • Pink Champagne Cupcakes
  • Halloween Mimosa #HalloweenTreatsWeek
  • Persimmon Butter

Fall Favorites

  • Air Fryer Mini Apple Pies
  • Apple Cider Doughnuts Recipe
  • Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
  • Pumpkin Smoothie Bowl
  • Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pound Cake
  • Apple Crumble Pie

Holiday Sweet Treats

  • Eggnog Waffles Recipe
  • Fresh Cranberry Bars
  • Eggnog Cupcakes
  • Cranberry Smoothie Bowl

Holiday Dinner Table

  • Vegan Green Bean Casserole
  • Cranberry Orange Pork Tenderloin
  • Beef Wellington
  • Whole Roasted Rainbow Carrots
  • Hasselback Potatoes
  • Green Beans Almondine
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All photography and written text on this site are Copyright of Fresh Coast Eats © 2019, unless otherwise noted. Material may not be duplicated, published or re-written without permission. All rights reserved. Please send all inquiries to [email protected] For all legalities, please see our Privacy and Disclosure for more details!