The concept of eating with the seasons stems from ancient practices, and essentially breaks down what to eat during each season to maintain an optimal level of health and prevent disease.
Not that long ago, most people were aware of the best time to grow and pick various fruits and vegetables, however, the modern lifestyle based on convenience has caused many of us lose touch with food seasonality.
Food in season tastes better, has less impact on the environment and is usually more affordable, but there’s also a multitude of health benefits associated with eating seasonal foods.
Joanna Sochan at Naturimedica is an online naturopath [1], committed to helping people transform their lives by becoming healthy and well naturally. We are often asked about the best gut health [2] diet or blastocystis hominis [3] diet, so we aim to make important health information readily accessible to everyone.
Read on to find out more.
What does “eating seasonally” mean?
Fundamentally, eating seasonally is about knowing when certain fruits and vegetables grow naturally in your climate, and then eating them in those seasons. In Australia, this can vary widely across the country, and many types of produce grow in more than one season.
How does eating seasonally benefit your health?
Fruit and Vegetables in Season Are More Nutritionally Dense
When produce is picked at its ripest, you get the maximum amount of nutrients the produce has to offer. Many fresh foods lose certain nutrients including some anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, folate and carotenes over time once it’s harvested. The longer produce sits in storage, travels to supermarkets, and sits on shelves, the more nutrient depletion can occur.
Out of Season Produce May Contain Added Chemicals
Foods grown out of season aren’t able to follow their natural growing and ripening rhythms. This means ripening agents are often used, including chemicals, gases, and heat processes. Some produce is also coated with an edible chemical film/waxes to protect it while it is in storage and in transit.
Seasonal Produce Supports Your Body’s Natural Nutritional Needs
Our bodies need a good variety of foods to thrive and we crave different foods as the seasons change.
In winter, nature provides citrus fruits which are high in Vitamin C. This is important for preventing and fighting off infections such as colds and influenza. Winter vegetables are also perfect for comforting and warming meals such as stews, soups and casseroles.
Summer produces stone fruits which provide beta-carotenes that help protect against sun damage. Summer fruits are also hydrating and sweet, perfect for a refreshing snack and cool for tasty summer salads.
Light spring salads and green juices detoxify the body after winter.
Importantly, eating with the seasons prevents or lessens many seasonal allergies. It also has a positive effect on better regulating your weight naturally.
Seasonal Produce Connects Us with Nature and the Earth
Eating seasonally bring us back to how our ancestors ate and the foods they grew locally in their own gardens. I encourage you to become a modern “locavore” i.e. choose food that’s grown locally as much as you can! You can grow your own herbs anywhere – in pots, on the balcony, even nature strips.
Eating this way also synchronises our bodies with the world around us and the cycles of nature. We are of the Earth but we often act as though we are separate from our natural surroundings and are ignoring the laws of nature. These disconnected relationships with our world create many health imbalances or problems I see in clinic, including feeling depressed or anxious, heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, to name a few.
Seasonal eating also helps to establish meaningful relationship with the environment [4]. This can have profound healing effects for our wellbeing and happiness.
What is in season and when?
With innovations in technology and transport, most fruits and vegetables can be purchased from your local supermarket all year round, so it’s easy to lose track of which fruits and veggies are actually at their freshest and most flavourful when each season rolls around. Where you live makes a difference in what’s available during each season, but the below general lists will help to give you an idea of foods by each season.
Here are the lists of some of the fruits and vegetables in season in the Eastern states of Australia – New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Spring – September to November
Asparagus, avocado, apples
Bananas, beetroot, broccoli, broccolini, brussels sprouts
Cabbage, capsicum, carrot [5], cauliflower, cantaloupe, cherries, corn
Leafy greens such as kale and lettuce, leek, lemon, lime
Mushrooms, mandarins
Oranges
Peas, potatoes, pumpkin, pineapple, pears
Rhubarb, radish
Strawberries, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Zucchini
Summer – December to February
Asparagus, apricots, avocado, apples
Bananas, blackberries, blueberries, beetroot
Cantaloupe, cherries, cucumber, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, corn
Eggplant
Fig
Grapefruit, grapes
Lemon
Mango
Nectarine
Oranges
Passionfruit, peaches, plums, pear, pineapple, peas
Raspberries, rhubarb
Strawberries, squash
Tomatoes
Watermelon, watercress
Zucchini [6]
Autumn – March to May
Avocado [7], apples
Beetroot, broccoli, bananas
Capsicum, carrots, cauliflower
Eggplant
Grapefruit, grapes
Lettuce, lemon, lime
Mandarin
Onion, oranges
Potatoes, pumpkin, passionfruit
Spinach, Sweet potato
Zucchini
Winter – June to August
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage, celery, carrots
Eggplant
Fennel
Horseradish
Leeks
Mushrooms
Oranges, onions
Parsnip, potatoes, pumpkin
Radish
Shallot, spinach, swede, sweet potato
Turnip
Eating with the seasons download
For readers who live in Sydney or News South Wales, I included a handy fresh produce summary table ready for printing out and keeping in the kitchen – click below to print
Eating with Seasons in Sydney & NSW summary table [8]
It’s really important to note that it’s not always possible to eat locally and seasonally all of the time. However, it is important to make decisions where possible that are better for you, and your health.
Bottom line
At Naturimedica, we recommend that you eat seasonally whenever possible as it allows you to try different fruits and veggies throughout the year, ensuring a well-balanced diet [9] full of nutrient dense produce for overall health and wellbeing.
If you have been searching for a “naturopath near me” look no further. Joanna Sochan is the online nutritionist [10] trusted by clients all over Australia to make natural good health available to everyone, everywhere. Book an online consultation [11]now.
[11]Good health and blessings
[12]
Joanna Sochan
Wholistic Health and Lifestyle Therapist
Natural and Lifestyle Therapies for Abundant Health and Wellbeing
Disclaimer: The above material is for informational and educational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescription or recommendation. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should not make any changes in their health regimen or diet before first consulting a doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition or their particular circumstances.
Joanna Sochan is a Natural Therapist and founder of Naturimedica Holistic Wellcare. She has a passion for helping clients transform their lives by becoming healthy and well naturally. Joanna has 12+ years experience in clinical practice and has special interest in solving complex cases, gut health, food sensitivities, hormone imbalances, autoimmune disorders and weight loss. She helps clients individually (mostly online) Australia-wide and also offers online therapeutic programs, eCourses and self-help eBooks. View full bio [13].