As always, we love to educate our AWG Bakery community on healthy habits! Eating fruits and vegetables in season has been a practice for centuries, and for good reason. Not only are seasonal produce items typically fresher and tastier, but they also provide important nutrients that our bodies need during that time of year. Let’s talk about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables in season and why it's a healthy practice to adopt.
When we eat fruits and vegetables in season, we are consuming produce that is at the peak of its nutrient content. For example, in the summer months, fruits like watermelon and berries are in season and packed with antioxidants and vitamins that help protect our skin from sun damage. Similarly, in the winter, citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits are in season, which are rich in vitamin C, a nutrient that helps boost our immune system during the cold and flu season.
Eating in season is also beneficial for our environment. When we eat locally grown produce that is in season, we support our local farmers, reduce the carbon footprint of transporting produce long distances, and help preserve the natural resources needed for farming.
In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, eating seasonal fruits and vegetables is an important aspect of maintaining health and balance in the body. Ayurveda recognizes that the natural cycles of the seasons affect our bodies and that each season requires different types of foods to maintain our health and wellbeing. During the hot summer months, cooling fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, and coconut are recommended to balance the heat in the body. In the cooler months, warming foods like root vegetables and hearty grains are suggested to help keep the body warm and nourished. So cool!!
So eating fruits and vegetables in season is not only a healthy practice, but it is also beneficial for our environment and can help us achieve balance in our bodies according to the principles of Ayurveda. Next time you're at the farmers' market or grocery store, try to choose produce that is in season, and enjoy the delicious and nutritious benefits that come with it. And of course, we hope you make a toast-spiration with it on some AWG bread!!!
Here is a helpful list of seasonal fruits and vegetables!
Winter Season
- Chestnuts
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Kale
- Leeks
- Radicchio
- Radishes
- Rutabaga
- Turnips
Spring Season
- Apricots
- Avocado
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Carrots
- Celeriac
- Chives
- Collards
- Fava Beans
- Fennel
- Fiddlehead Ferns
- Morels
- Mustard Greens
Summer Season
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Green Beans
- Zucchini
Fall Season
- Apples
- Cranberries
- Figs
- Grapes
- Pears
- Pomegranate
- Quince
- Butternut Squash
- Cauliflower
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Mushrooms
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potatoes
- Swiss Chard
