What Foods Are Best To Eat In The Summer
There are so many benefits to eating foods that are in season. Read this post to find out the foods that are in season for summer.
Why Should You Eat In Season?
- It is more more nutrient dense. The sooner you eat after harvest, the more nutrient dense that fruit or vegetable will be. So when you consider the long trip your product took to get to the store and then how long it took until you ate it, is a lengthy process that as lost a lot of its nutritional content along the way.
To add to that, when you grow foods out of season, stores add ripening agents that include chemicals, gases, and heat processes. Not only that, some produce you find at the store is coated with an edible film to protect it.
For me, I prefer foods that are as naturally grown and organic. For my family’s health, eating organic is a huge priority. Researchers have found that by artificially ripening their crop it was found not to be as nutritious. (Induced Ripening Agents and Their Effect on Fruit Quality of Banana) - The quality far exceeds any other! I cannot tell you how floored I have been trying a fresh carrot from the garden and realizing I never really knew the taste until that very moment. Garden produce doesn’t come close to the taste and quality you get from a home-grown one. And as a wife to a chef, he agrees 100% and it’s why he definitely encourages my time in the garden.
- It’s sustainable. When you constantly buy from the store, it’s easy to forget the trip that ingredient took to get there. Most of the produce you find at the store went through some sort of long-distance travel. The fuel emissions from all the imports have a huge impact on the environment.
- It’s cheaper. The reason it’s much cheaper is because there’s an abundance of it when it’s in season. Then they can give it to you at a lower price.
- It aligns our bodies with nature. I believe we are created perfectly and when we eat in season, it gives us better nutrition, more energy, and keeps us in the presence of that season.
How Can You Eat In Season?
The first and favorite thing of mine to do is start a garden. This will get you really in tune as to what is in season and you can pick the produce as you need it. You get to control how you take care of it and it’s such a treat! If you’re intimidated, start small with an herb garden either in pots on your patio or windowsill.
Another great way to eat in season is checking out your local farmer’s market. I love forming relationships with my local farmers and I always go to the farmer’s market and get to know each stand. You can talk directly to the producer and find out their growing process to see if it fits your values. Most of these farmers cannot afford to get the organic certification but you can always ask what their practices are and if they spray. (Find out here on why organic is important to me)
Those relationships with your local farmers are ideal. Think about it, you’re already getting the freshest, most in-season produce possible. You have a back up in case another event happens at the grocery stores and everything is sold out. One thing I like to do as well is hand out my number to a few of the farmer’s so they can get a hold of me if they ever have a surplus of crops. That way I can preserve them through canning for my pantry! They will often just give them to you or give it to you for a very reasonable price.
Try joining a CSA or community supported agriculture. You can find one in your area here. This is a fun idea if you’re adventurous in the kitchen or maybe if you don’t like meal planning.
It’s essentially like a subscription box. You pay the farmer and each week you receive a box of seasonal produce. The produce varies based on the availability and you are able to try out new vegetables that you’ve never heard of before!
What Foods Are Best To Eat In The Summer Video
Eating Seasonally in Summer
I have to give a little disclaimer to this part, because this will vary based on your location. To be absolutely sure of what is in season in your part of the country you can click below.
But generally speaking, you can find a lot of the produce on this list in your region.
- corn
- tomatoes
- peppers
- eggplant
- zucchini
- blueberries
- summer squash
- cherries
- strawberries
- cucumbers
- stone fruit
- beans
- peas
- raspberries
- melon
- potatoes
- herbs
- garlic
- leafy greens
- onions
- mushrooms
- figs
- leeks
- cabbage
- blackberries
In my home management binder, I have my meal plan templates and also include a list of foods in season so I can make those ingredients a priority. Pinterest is a great place where you can find inspiration too!
And I know in today’s diet culture, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the do’s and don’ts of eating. That was not the purpose of me writing this post. My intention was to as always, educate, but to look at these foods as a way to add it in to your diet. This is no way means that you shouldn’t eat anything else. Basing your meals around these specific foods will be a great way to start.
Get Your Slow Summer E-book
Summer is here and I love the possibilities that come with each changing of the seasons. I’d love to share with you my compilation of ideas that will inspire you with this coming season. Included in the e-book is
- A summer bucket list that everyone in your family can participate in
- a summer foods list to inspire your meal planning
- a cute summer-inspired recipe template to write down your favorite summer recipes
- a grocery list to keep track of your farmer’s market necessities
- to-do list
- blank card to gift for any special summer occasion.
- gift tags for a simple homemade gift
I’ve created a FREE ebook that you can get immediate access to. All you have to do is fill out the form below!
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Let’s Chat!
What are some of your favorite summer recipes? Share in the comments below.
