Seasonal Eating Guide>>>

What does this mean for you? Eat seasonally! To enjoy the full nourishment of food, you must make your menu a seasonal one. In different parts of the world, and even in different regions of one country, seasonal menus can vary. But here are some overriding principles you can follow to ensure optimal nourishment in every season:

* In spring, focus on tender, leafy vegetables that represent the fresh new growth of this season. The greening that occurs in springtime should be represented by greens on your plate, including Swiss chard, spinach, Romaine lettuce, fresh parsley, and basil.
* In summer, stick with light, cooling foods in the tradition of traditional Chinese medicine. These foods include fruits like strawberries, apple, pear, and plum; vegetables like summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and corn; and spices and seasonings like peppermint and cilantro.
* In fall, turn toward the more warming, autumn harvest foods, including carrot, sweet potato, onions, and garlic. Also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger, peppercorns, and mustard seeds.
* In winter, turn even more exclusively toward warming foods. Remember the principle that foods taking longer to grow are generally more warming than foods that grow quickly. So do most of the root vegetables, including carrot, potato, onions and garlic. Corn and nuts also fit in here.

Just because you see a mango in your local supermarket during the fall or winter, doesn't mean that it's "in season" in your area. In the United States, shoppers have gotten used to having almost every fruit and vegetable available for purchase year-round. Produce is typically imported from other countries during times of the year when these fruits and veggies cannot be grown domestically. Despite the obvious convenience of consistently having a large array of foods available in your grocery store, imported produce may be smaller, more expensive, and simply taste below par because they lack significant mineral structure.

What's In Season?

Winter: Apples, Beets, Burdock, Cabbage, Carrots, Collard Greens, Daikon, Garlic, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Mesclun, Mushrooms, Onions (red and yellow), Parsnips, Pears, Potatoes, Rutabagas, Shallots, Sprouts, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Winter Squash

Spring: Apples, Arugula, Asparagus, Beet Greens, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Chard, Collard Greens, Cress, Fiddleheads, Garlic, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Lettuce, Mesclun, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Onions, Parsnips, Peas (snap and snow), Potatoes, Radishes, Rhubarb, Scallions, Shallots, Spinach, Sprouts, Strawberries, Turnip Greens, Turnips

Summer: Apricots, Beet Greens, Beets, Blackberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cherries, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Currants, Eggplant, Elderberries, Endive, Fennel, Garlic, Green Beans, Gooseberries, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Melons, Mesclun, Nectarines, New Potatoes, Okra, Onions (red and yellow), Parsnips, Peaches, Peppers, Plums, Radicchio, Radishes, Rhubarb, Scallions, Shallots, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Turnip Greens, Turnips

Fall: Apples, Arugula, Asian pears, Beet Greens, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Burdock, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collard Greens, Corn, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Daikon, Eggplant, Fennel, Garlic, Grapes, Green Beans, Horseradish, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mesclun, Mustard Greens, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions (red, yellow), Parsnips, Peas (snap, snow), Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Quince, Radishes, Raspberries, Rutabagas, Scallions, Shallots, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnip Greens, Turnips