Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

Whether it’d be walking through the juice aisle or produce, fruits and vegetables seem to be available all year long. The weather obviously changes throughout the year, not allowing harvest to be 24-7 so why are these foods always at the grocery store? In order to make the most of their crops, and make their products available and please consumers, manufacturers freeze, can, dry, or juice fruits and vegetables.

The best types of fruits and vegetables to buy are of course FRESH (low in fat, sodium & calories & rich in fiber), but frozen, canned, dried and 100% juice are good choices as well. When choosing a type other than fresh. be aware of increased calories from added sauces, syrups, sugars and other ingredients.

Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables have many health benefits. As we all know, these foods are filled with vitamins like phytonutrients and antioxidants; these may aid in decreased risk of chronic diseases, weight loss, protect from certain cancers, lower blood pressure, decrease bone loss, and proper digestive function.

Next time you need to stock up on these colorful foods, travel to your local farmer’s market instead of the grocery store. Purchasing fruits and vegetables that are in season from a farmer’s market helps to support local farmers. It’s a great way to talk to them one on one about how they maintain their crops, if they are organic, and answer any other questions you might have.

Benefits of Buying “In Season” Fruits & Vegetables

BODY – fresh has the most nutritional benefits & “in season” are most likely GMO free

WALLET – many of the same are grown all at once making them cheaper

MIND – buying fresh produce will allow you to cook more & be creative

PALATE – the flavor & texture will be the most rich when fresh from farm to table

Content Checked Holdings, Inc. has a family of health apps – ContentChecked, SugarChecked, and MigraineChecked that help users make more suitable choices at the grocery stores, based off of their personalized dietary needs. Download all three apps for free in the App Store or Google Play. Have questions about Nutrition, Weight Loss, Food Allergies or Migraines? Get your Nutrition questions answered by our team of Nutritionists by connecting with us on social media: @contentchecked, @sugarchecked, @migrainechecked.

References

1.) https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/nutrition-through-seasons/seasonal-produce

2.) http://localfoods.about.com/od/finduselocalfoods/a/natlseason.htm

3.) http://www.choosemyplate.gov/fruits-nutrients-health