A Look at What it Means to eat Seasonal and Fall Foods

Check out all the benefits to planning your meals according to the season.

Updated: October 18, 2016 5:34 AM IST

By Soni Satpathy-Singh

apple cranberry salad

[Photo Source: Pinterest]

The idea of eating seasonal foods is becoming more popular. Although it is a relatively new movement, it’s actually consistent with the way people have eaten through most of history. At the time, people had no other option but to make do with seasonal foods.

In the industrial age, it became possible to transport foods over long distances quickly. As food production and transportation became more efficient, supermarkets were able to stock foods from all over the world all year round. Today, we take it for granted that we can get any foods we want throughout the year. There are, however, some advantages to returning to the practice of eating seasonally.

Let’s look at some of the reasons it makes sense to eat foods that are in season.

1. Seasonal Foods Taste Better

Foods that are in season are fresher and tastier. Fruits and vegetables that are ripe and grown locally are juicier and sweeter than those shipped from far away, this is often apparent in their appearance. When items are shipped, they must be chilled or frozen to preserve freshness, thus some flavor and freshness is inevitably lost during this process.

[Read Related: Tasty Fall Suppers for Busy Nights]

2. More Nutritious

Fresher foods not only look and taste better, they are healthier. Fruits and vegetables, for example, contain many vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Some of these are lost when foods are sitting on trucks or docks for long periods. For maximum health and nutrition, you should look for seasonal and local produce.

3. Better for the Environment

There’s an environmental cost to purchasing foods out of season. When you eat fruits and vegetables that must be shipped long distances, a great deal of energy is consumed. This requires greater use of fossil fuels and creates pollution. When you eat seasonally, you can choose local foods that are grown in your own region. This choice helps to preserve the earth.

4. Support Your Community

Every buying decision you make has an impact on the economy. When you buy seasonal foods that are grown locally, you’re supporting farmers in your own community. Buying out of season foods, on the other hand, is sending your shopping dollars to distant places.

Food that are in Season in Fall

Eating seasonally depends, of course, on where you live. In temperate and tropical climates, there’s less diversity from one season to another. If, however, you live in a region with four distinct seasons, you can observe which foods are grown in which seasons. The following are some examples of foods typically in season in fall, Septmeber-November in the USA.

  • Acorn Squash
  • Asian Pears
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Butter Lettuce
  • Butternut Squash
  • Cauliflower
  • Cranberries
  • Daikon Radish
  • Endive
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Grapes
  • Key Limes
  • Kumquats
  • Mushrooms
  • Pears
  • Persimmons
  • Pineapple
  • Pomegranate
  • Pumpkin
  • Sweet Potato
  • Swish Chard
  • Turnips

Looking for fall-inspired recipes to make use of your seasonal harvest? We got you covered!

[Read Related: 6 Festive Fall Inspired Soups]

To read more recipes fall foods that will help you stay fit, click here! You can also check out these amazing  Pear and Pumpkin Spice recipes perfect for fall.

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