Your Guide to Seasonal Eating

Each season comes with its own beautiful bounty of fruits and vegetables. From peaches in the summer to squash in the fall, there’s no shortage of delicious and colorful produce to include on our plates. Seasonal eating is delicious, nutritious, and sustainable with a number of benefits for you and your family!

Benefits of Seasonal Eating

You may be wondering what switching to eating seasonally can do for you and your family. Here are a few reasons as to why eating seasonally can be very beneficial:

• More Taste: Seasonal produce is fresher, sweeter, and tastier because it is fully ripened on the vine since it is harvested locally and doesn’t need to be shipped. Out-of-season produce tends to be harvested earlier so that it can ripen as it is being shipped from different places. Because of this, seasonal produce has much more flavor and is more nutritious than out-of-season produce. 
• Lower Costs: Seasonal food is very cost-effective. Because the farmer does not need to spend money on transportation or storage, the seasonal produce’s cost goes down. Also, seasonal produce is priced lower because the supply is so much greater. Produce grows more easily during its season so farmers have lager supply to sell. 
• Nutritious: Seasonal produce is harvested at its peak, which produces the highest amounts of nutrients and antioxidants! As produce is stored or transported, it slowly loses some of its nutrients. Also, nature knows exactly what nutrients our bodies need as it moves through the seasons. For example, the late fall and winter brings us produce rich in vitamin C, which helps protect us during cold and flu season.
• Sustainable: Eating seasonally is much more environmentally friendly because it reduces transportation, therefore reducing carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution. When we buy foods that grow outside of our local area, it must be shipped by land, air, and sea to get to our grocery store shelves.
• ​Supports Your Local Economy: Buying seasonal produce from farmer’s markets allows you to support your local food growers and farmers! If you can’t make it to your local farmers market, oftentimes seasonal produce in your area that you find in the grocery store will come from local farmers since they don’t have to be shipped from another part of the country or world during that time.

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Where to Find Seasonal Produce?

If this is your first time to try eating seasonally, you may be wondering where to find seasonal produce in your area! Here are some tips on finding and buying seasonal produce:

• Grow Your Own Food: Gardening is probably one of the best ways to eat seasonally! Choose your favorite produce in season and grow it yourself in your own backyard. With this, you can save money, get the most nutritious produce, and engage in a fun activity with your little ones! Check out our Gardening 101 Blog for more benefits and tips on gardening.
• Check Out a Farmer’s Market: Some people may not have the time or resources to start a garden, so buying your seasonal produce at a local farmer’s market is an excellent resource. You can build relationships with the local farmers who might share some recipes, preparation tips, and suggestions for you. It’s even fun for your little ones to meet the farmers who grow the food they eat and try new fruits and veggies they may not see in the grocery store! If you want to find a local farmers’ market near you, try using this Farmer’s Market Search Directory.
• Check Your Supermarket: Although gardening and farmer’s markets are your best options, you can still find seasonal produce at your supermarket. Most supermarkets are stocked with local in-season produce, but try researching what produce is actually in season before heading to your supermarket since they often carry the same produce year-around. You can also look for frozen produce or ripe, organic produce options when shopping at your grocery store.
• Use the Seasonal Buying Chart: Before you start gardening or heading to your local farmer’s market, check what’s in season in your state! Since each state has a different climate, there are a few differences in seasonal produce from state to state. Use this Seasonal Food Guide to help you out. Just input where you live and what month it is, and the guide will let you know what produce is in season!

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March Seasonal Produce

With the transition into springtime, there are so many delicious fruits and vegetables that are in season! Here are some of the seasonal produce for March:
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Vegetables

• Artichokes
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cauliflower
• Collard Greens
• Green Peas
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Turnips​

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Fruits

• Avocado
• Grapefruits
• Lemon
• Lime
• Oranges
• Pears
• Persimmons
• Strawberries

Recipes Using Spring Produce

Even if you are familiar with a particular fruit or vegetable, you may not know how to make it. Seasonal eating is a great way to get more creative in the kitchen and use the fruits and vegetables in new ways!
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Our Kale Chip Recipe are a delicious seasonal snack that you can make and munch on during March! You can add whatever seasoning you would like to your chips, whether it's a little salt or a little bit of spice. Kale is full of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and magnesium and is also packed with powerful antioxidants. By eating this crispy snack, you are feeding your circulatory and digestive systems, as well as your brain, bones, and muscles!
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This California Veggie Wrap Recipe includes 4 of March’s seasonal produce - lettuce, spinach, carrot, and avocado! This is the perfect recipe to make to celebrate those delicious veggies in their freshest form. Like the kale chips, these veggie wraps are full of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants that are super nourishing and will help keep all of your body systems healthy and strong!
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You don’t have to eat skittles to taste the rainbow! This Orange Chicken Stir-Fry is a healthy take on Chinese takeout and is filled with spring veggies that are both colorful and delicious.
Carrots and Snow Peas are high in Vitamin K, which supports strong bones. This stir fry is easy and takes less than twenty minutes to prepare. See if your kids can name all of the colors in this tasty dish!


We'd love to see how you use your Spring produce. Leave us a comment below and let us know about your tasty creations! Don't forget to follow along on social media for more recipe and tips.