Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Every Food has Its Season

Do you ever notice when you go to the market for your produce, nine times out of ten you will find any and every fruit and veggie imaginable? How about that sometimes strawberries can be more expensive than a decent bottle of wine? 

Well, that's because most markets are providing us with fruits and vegetables that are not in season. The reason for the high prices is because those off season fruits and veggies are brought to you from long distances, often traveling 1500-2500 miles sometimes. You may wonder, doesn't the produce spoil after such a long haul? Actually, no because the fruits and veggies are picked while immature so that they last the long voyage. This results in vitamin and nutrient loss. To avoid it, always buy produce that is in season. The more you shop for produce in season, the more you get to enjoy the taste and quality of your strawberries and the more money you save.

* photo credit- Pinch my salt

Awareness is key when shopping so I'd like to share a list of fruits and veggies that are in season in the spring so you get the most out of your purchase.

Spring Fruits:                      
  • Apricots                          
  • Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Strawberries
  • Bananas
  • Avocado
  • Oranges
Spring Veggies:
  • Artichoke
  • Asparagus
  • Carrots
  • Fennel
  • Spinach
  • Snow Peas
  • Onions
Along with buying produce in season, it's important to buy certain produce always in organic form. I know this can be hard to commit to because it can be hard on the pocket book, but you are worth it! If you can avoid consuming pesticides along with your food, the health benefits can be high. According to Mens Health Magazine, here are 12 foods you should ALWAYS buy organic.
  1. Peaches
  2. Apples
  3. Sweet Bell Peppers
  4. Celery
  5. Nectarines
  6. Strawberries
  7. Cherries
  8. Kale
  9. Lettuce
  10. Grapes
  11. Carrots
  12. Pears
Phew! I know it's overwhelming. Try to start out slow and pick 3 things off the list that you eat most and gradually add on.

On the flip side, here are 12 foods that are relatively pesticide-free.
  1. Onions
  2. Avocados
  3. Sweet Corn
  4. Pineapples
  5. Mangoes
  6. Asparagus
  7. Sweet Peas
  8. Kiwis
  9. Cabbage
  10. Eggplants
  11. Papayas
  12. Watermelon
  13. Broccoli
  14. Sweet Potatoes
  15. Tomatoes
I hope that this helps to inspire you to pick wisely when shopping for your produce. Sometimes it's hard to change things that just seem routine and easy, but your healthy choices can impact the environment and your health in a positive way! Happy shopping :)

5 comments:

  1. hi larisa,

    i love reading your blog! i may have to disagree with the inclusion of tomatoes as something that one shouldn't buy organic...first and foremost is the taste!! for anyone who has grown their own tomatoes (which are quite easy and grow like crazy) and taken a bite from a sun-warmed beauty off the vine, they would never pay (usually quite a bit of money) for that red, mealy tasting thing the grocery stores try to pass off as a tomato.

    second, organic tomatoes have like twice the amount of flavonoids (antioxidants) than conventional tomatoes...i'm pretty sure this also is true of organic milk (more nutrients, less nitrates)...but i could be wrong (not about the taste), maybe your readers will know better.

    bottom line for me, i won't be giving up my farmer's market/homegrown tomatoes anytime soon...for me, it is totally worth the money (and nutritional value)!

    happy spring!
    joyce

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Modernest- Thanks for the support! How great would it be to have a tomato garden! Good point with the tomatoes. It's funny how they can make or break a meal.

    @Toni- Thanks! Glad I could help.

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  3. Things are looking great here! I loved the link for the wallpaper stickers...thanks for that!

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  4. wow this was really insightful!! thanks, I enjoyed reading it!

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