Eating Seasonally
Written by Abi Broda, Assistant Director
Do you eat differently throughout the seasons of the year?
This isn’t something many people think about, but your body was created to react a certain way to the seasons around you. In the spring, people often feel fresh and rejuvenated. In winter, people often take time to rest and reflect. God did this really cool thing of giving us foods that we need in each growing season. Below you will find some information and recommended goals for each season.
Fall
Fall is a unique season that sometimes mimics summer, while at other times shocks you with wintry chills. Your energy remains high in autumn, so it’s an ideal season to be goal-oriented and complete projects. This is the time that your body begins to cool and detoxify from the heat and abundance of the summer as it prepares for winter rest. When it comes to health, fall is the season of healing and balance. Take time to fill up on the massive harvest of nutrient-dense foods that come with this season.
Fall Goals
Eat meals that combine raw and cooked foods to reflect this time of the year
Choose nutrient-dense foods that are beneficial for this time of year like squash and pumpkin to repair summer damage
Take advantage of the energy and industriousness of the season to experiment with new foods and recipes
Support natural detox with fresh, fiber-rich foods and plenty of water
Opt for root vegetables like beets and sweet potatoes for their natural balancing and grounding effects. Did I mention that they also reduce sweet cravings?
Winter
With shorter days and longer nights, nature gives you permission to slow down this season. Focus on nourishing food, optimal sleep, and calmness during the winter months. Take time to move your body and boost your circulation with exercise that keep you fit without exhausting you. Health goals of the season include keeping your immunity strong, preventing seasonal dryness, inflammation, sensitivity, and avoiding unnecessary weight gain from holiday celebrations. This is the time to prepare your body for spring rebirth.
Winter Goals
Stay in tune with your hunger and fullness, even while celebrating
Take time to prepare more warm, home-cooked meals
Ward off colds and flu with immune-boosting foods like onions, garlic, mushrooms, cruciferous veggies (arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), and citrus fruits
Keep skin hydrated with healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and walnuts
Add warming, circulation-boosting spices to meals like turmeric, cinnamon, or ginger
Spring
The air smells alive, plants are in bloom, and you enter a period of renewal, detoxification, and lightening, which at times can be quite literal. In spring, focus on refreshing your lifestyle, reinventing yourself, awakening your spirit and your connection to the world around you. Make a new commitment to healthy habits that may have fallen by the wayside over the winter. Fill your plate with greens and other fresh foods. Your reward will be glowing skin, shedding excess “winter weight,” and increasing your energy levels.
Spring Goals
Eat plenty of fresh, dark leafy greens and spring foods like asparagus and sprouts.
Embrace foods with a bitter taste (this signals cleansing), like asparagus, artichoke, or rhubarb.
Grow your own mini garden of vegetables and/or herbs
Eat more lightly cooked or raw foods.
Summer
Summer marks the height of the year’s energy, activity, heat, and abundance. It’s the season when the senses awaken—on your plate and in the world around you. Let the environment and the fresh foods of the season peak your energy and your desire to keep eating healthy. Food choices should be bursting with flavor and hydration this season! There’s so much variety and color at the farmer’s market, so change the ingredients in your meals as often as possible. Many colorful summer foods help protect skin from UV damage, cool you, and manage weight.
Summer Goals
Prioritize hydration with naturally water-rich foods like celery, cucumber, and pineapple
Shield your skin with safe sun care and UV-protective summer foods like bell peppers, watermelon, and tomatoes
Chew food 20-30 times as a reminder to slow down and appreciate the meal you are having.
Eat a rainbow of colors each day
