GREEN EATING
delicious food that cares for you and the planet
EATING WITH THE SEASONS
Technology and global supply chains have allowed us access to any crop at any time of year. We can buy tomatoes in December and pumpkins in March, meaning many of us have completely lost touch with the seasonality of food. There are many benefits to this. We have a more resilient food supply, more diversity in our diets and access to nutritious foods year round.
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However, we have lost some key benefits of eating seasonally. Producing crops for harvest out of season requires more resources - often light and heat is needed to ripen crops in the winter seasons. Foods are also more likely to be produced much further away, hence needing more transport fuel or maybe even airfreight (such as summer berries in the winter). There is also evidence to suggest that our bodies suffer when we are out of touch with the seasons. We aren't benefiting from the nutrients that nature is specifically providing at that time of year.
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Nature is an amazing thing.
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Being mindful of the seasons is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of your diet, and it will also likely be cheaper! Not forgetting the enjoyment of seasonal traditions - think the first sweet Summer strawberries and parsnip soup in winter.
BRITISH SEASONAL PRODUCE
See below for an overview of what's in season when in the UK. Sometimes I use this for recipe inspiration or to remind me to eat a variety of veg. Checking the packs to see where a product is grown can help too, as the UK tends to import produce when it's out of season.
January
Apple, Beetroot, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Carrot, Kale, Leek, Onion, Parsnip, Potato, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Swede
April
Beetroot, Sprouting Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cucumber Kale, Leek, Parsnip, Potato, Spinach, Spring Onion, Radish, Rhubarb
July
Artichoke, Aubergine, Beans, Cabbage, Cucumber, Romanesco, Cauliflower, Chard, Courgette, Carrot, Celery, Fennel, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Marrow, Onion, Lettuce, Leek, Sweet Pepper, Pea, Potato, Spinach, Spring Onion, Spring Greens, Sweetcorn, Radish, Turnip, Tomato, Rhubarb, Apple, Blackcurrant, Gooseberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry
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October
Aubergine, Beetroot, Runner Beans, French Beans, Brussels Sprout, Calabrese Broccoli, Cabbage, Cucumber, Celeriac, Romanesco, Cauliflower, Chard, Carrot, Celery, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Marrow, Leek, Sweet Pepper, Pea, Potato, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Spinach, Spring Greens, Sweetcorn, Squash, Swede, Turnip, Tomato, Apple, Blackberry, Pear, Raspberry
February
Beetroot, Sprouting Broccoli, Brussels Sprout, Cabbage, Carrot, Kale, Leek, Onion, Parsnip, Potato, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Swede
May
Asparagus, Cucumber, Romanesco, Cauliflower, Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Leek, Potato, Spinach, Spring Onion, Radish, Rhubarb
August
Artichoke, Aubergine, Beans, Beetroot, Calabrese Broccoli, Cabbage, Cucumber, Romanesco, Cauliflower, Chard, Courgette, Carrot, Celery, Fennel, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Marrow, Onion, Lettuce, Leek, Sweet Pepper, Pea, Potato, Spinach, Spring Greens, Sweetcorn, Radish, Turnip, Tomato, Apple, Blackberry, Pear, Plum, Gooseberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry
November
Beetroot, Brussels Sprout, Calabrese Broccoli, Cabbage, Celeriac, Romanesco, Cauliflower, Carrot, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Potato, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Swede, Turnip, Apple, Blackberry, Pear
March
Beetroot, Sprouting Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Kale, Leek, Onion, Parsnip, Potato, Spinach, Swede, Radish, Rhubarb
June
Asparagus, Artichoke, Broad Beans, Cabbage, Cucumber, Romanesco, Cauliflower, Chard, Courgette, Fennel, Kale, Lettuce, Leek, Sweet Pepper, Pea, Potato, Spinach, Spring Onion, Spring Greens, Radish, Turnip, Rhubarb, Blackcurrant, Gooseberry, Strawberry
September
Artichoke, Aubergine, Beetroot, Runner Beans, French Beans, Calabrese Broccoli, Cabbage, Cucumber, Celeriac, Romanesco, Cauliflower, Chard, Courgette, Carrot, Celery, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Marrow, Lettuce, Leek, Sweet Pepper, Pea, Potato, Spinach, Spring Greens, Sweetcorn, Squash, Swede, Radish, Turnip, Tomato, Apple, Blackberry, Pear, Plum, Strawberry, Raspberry
December
Beetroot, Brussels Sprout, Calabrese Broccoli, Cabbage, Celeriac, Carrot, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Potato, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Swede, Turnip, Apple, Pear