eat: why should I eat in season?

How often do you visit the super market and pick up ‘fresh’ food that has come from Kenya or South America?

Recently I have tried to swerve major super markets when it comes to buying fresh fruit and veg. Ok, so it’s less convenient and may mean that you have to ditch the green beans and have locally sourced carrots instead but not only does it taste better, it supports your local community and takes down your carbon footprint.

Food that has been flown half way around the world not only lacks nutrients and ethics but is potentially full of pesticides and preservatives too. So much of what we grab quickly from the supermarket has been picked way too early and means that a lot of the time it is ripening in transit. Add to that the farmers that it’s being bought from would have only been given a small percentage of it’s worth as a lot of the time they are working with under paid margins.

Fruit, Veg, Meat and local produce taste so much better when they are sourced locally. They have’t had to journey half way across the world to be with you and also are much higher in all of the good stuff that keeps you feeling healthy.

Find a local green grocer, country farm shop or your family run butcher and try swapping trips to the supermarket to buying from them directly. Trust me, things will taste completely different. Not only that, if you plan what you’re going to cook, your shop will be cheaper. That’s not always the price you’re paying for the food itself but with the extra things that you pick up walking around the supermarket that you really don’t need or get tempted by. We all know the feeling of heading in to the store to get one thing and ending up at the till with your arms full of buy one get one free offers, an extra pair of socks and that must have bottle of on offer Prosecco.

A few years ago I read a book called ‘Not On The Label’ and it was from that day my shopping habits changed. From hearing horror stories about the Chicken that we eat, to understanding the ethics behind coffee and how the impact of the price we pay for the food we buy in the UK has a drastic impact on communities in Africa and Asia.

When it comes to eating in season, so many of us are wising up. What we decide to fuel our bodies with has both short and long term effects on both our mental and physical wellbeing. What we eat is completely within our control and it starts with the decisions that we make when we step in to the supermarket. If you’re learning about this for the first time, we have put together a rough guide to the food that is in season throughout the year so you can decide what to add in your diet each month. There is so much fruit and veg to choose from, not only will it taste banging, it will also be fully loaded with essential nutrients and antioxidants.

January

Apples, Blood Oranges, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Clementines, Grapefruit, Horseradish, Kale, Kiwi Fruit, Leeks, Lemons, Oranges, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Pears, Potatoes, Pomegranate, Rhubarb, Satsumas, Swede, Tangerines, Turnips.

February

Bananas, Blood Oranges, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Clementines, Grapefruit, Kale, Kiwi Fruit, Leeks, Lemons, Oranges, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Rhubarb, Shallots, Swede, Tangerines, Turnips.

March

Artichokes, Bananas, Blood Oranges, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Kale, Kiwi Fruit, Leeks, Lemons, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Oranges, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Pineapples, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spinach, Spring Onions, Swede, Turnips.

April

Artichokes, Asparagus, Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kiwi Fruit, Leeks, Lettuce, New Potatoes, Mushrooms, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Pineapples, Radishes, Rocket, Rhubarb, Spinach, Spring Onions, Spring Peas, Watercress.

May

Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus, Bananas, Broccoli, Carrots, Cherries, Lettuce, Mangos, New Potatoes, Okra, Peas, Pineapples, Radishes, Rhubarb, Rocket, Spinach, Spring Onions, Spring Peas, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Watercress.

June

Apricots, Artichoke, Asparagus, Aubergine, Beetroot, Blueberries, Broad beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Cherries, Chillies, Courgettes, Fennel, French beans, Garlic, Kiwi Fruit, Lettuce, Mange-tout, New potatoes, Onions, Pak Choi, Peaches, Peas, Radishes, Rocket, Runner beans, Samphire, Spinach, Spring onions, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress.

 July

Apricots, Artichoke,Aubergine,Beetroot,Blackberries, Blueberries, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Cherries, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber, Fennel, French Beans, Garlic, Green Beans, Kiwi Fruit, Lettuce, Mange-tout, Mangoes, Melons, New Potatoes, Onions, Okra, Pak Choi, Peaches, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Radishes, Raspberries, Rocket, Runner Beans, Spring Onions, Spinach, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Watermelon.

August

Apples, Apricots, Artichoke, Aubergine, Beetroot,Blueberries, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Cherries, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber, Fennel, Figs, French Beans, Garlic, Cucumbers, Figs, Green Beans, Kiwi Fruit, Lettuce, Mangoes, Mange-tout, Marrow, Melons, Nectarines, Onions, Okra, Pak Choi, Peaches, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Plums, Radishes, Raspberries, Red-currants, Rocket, Runner Beans, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Sweetcorn, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Watermelon, Wild Mushrooms, Winter squash.

September

Apples, Artichoke,Aubergine, Beetroot, Blackberries, Broccoli, Butternut Squash,Carrots, Cantaloupe, Celeriac, Celery, Chillies, Courgettes, CucumberCauliflower, Elderberries, Fennel, Figs, French Beans, Garlic,Grapes, Green Beans, Horseradish, Kale, Leeks,Lettuce, Mange-tout, Mangoes, Marrow, Melons, Mushrooms, Nectarines, Onions, Okra, Pak Choi, Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Raspberries, Red-currants, Rocket, Runner Beans, Shallots, Spinach, Spring Onions, Sweetcorn, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms.

October 

Apples, Artichoke, Beetroot, Blackberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chillies, Cranberries, Elderberries, Fennel, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Horseradish, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Marrow, Mushrooms, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pomegranates, Pumpkins, Radishes, Rocket, Runner beans, Shallots, Swede, Sweetcorn, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms.

November 

Apples, Artichoke, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Clementines, Cranberries, Horseradish, Kale, Leeks, Mushrooms, Oranges, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Pears, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Satsumas, Shallots, Swede, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms.

December 

Apples, Broccoli, Beetroot, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Clementines,Cranberries, Grapefruit, Horseradish, Kale, Leeks, Mushrooms, Oranges, Papayas, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Pears, Pineapple, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Satsumas, Shallots, Swede, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Turnips, Wild Mushrooms.