Don't Confuse Your Stomach...Eat with the Seasons> Weekend Reflections

You’d never know it from a walk around the produce section of any U.S. grocery store, but tomatoes don’t grow in winter and June is an odd time to be eating an apple. International shipping is what is responsible for off-season fruits and vegetables appearing on supermarket shelves, usually with a hefty price tag attached. You may have been raised to think that such foods are a lovely luxury, but if you are treating them as a staple, you are forcing your body to work against the natural cycle of the farming year.
In addition to confusing your stomach, purchasing off-season produce represents a tremendous waste of fuel as foods are either intensively cultured in greenhouses, or are shipped incredible distances to us from other countries. Learning to eat with the seasons reduces pollution of the planet and aligns your body with the life-giving rhythm of the earth.

Eating with the Warm Season

When the hot months of late spring, summer and early fall are with us in North America, the local organic farm abounds with fabulous, mouthwatering vegetables like these:

* summer squash
* string beans
* cucumbers
* peppers
* avocados
* mesclun lettuces and greens
* eggplant

Warm weather fruits include these gorgeous choices:

* strawberries
* blueberries
* raspberries
* melons
* peaches
* plums
* nectarines
* tomatoes

Looking over this brief list, it becomes immediately apparent that the majority of the produce listed here has one major factor in common - water content. Think about the juiciness of berries, of watermelon, of tomatoes and lemon cucumbers. No doubt, this is Nature’s way of helping us to stay properly hydrated when the sun is at its hottest. Additionally, many of the foods here require minimal cooking or no cooking at all, which is just perfect when the last thing you want to do is turn on your oven on a sweltering afternoon. Essential vitamins are present in these foods for good summer health and the antioxidants found in blueberries and tomatoes may even be protecting your skin from the sun’s strongest rays and your body from various cancers. By growing your own summer produce, or buying from a local, organic farmer, you are doing the smart thing for your health, for the local economy and for the environment.

Eating with the Cold Season

The organic farm changes when fall turns cold and moves into winter and early spring. Your selection of seasonal vegetables includes:

* pumpkins
* winter squash
* chard
* spinach
* broccoli
* potatoes
* dried beans
* peas
* carrots
* onions
* lettuce

Appetizing, flavor-packed fruits for the cold months include:

* apples
* pears
* oranges
* lemons
* grapefruit
* limes

Alright, I hope this helps...Be well!!