Dining At Home For The Holidays? Celebrating the Season With Food That's In Season

logan tauson
Dec 12, 2020
7 min read

Why Seasonal Eating Is a Gift That Nourishes Your Health and The Health of Our Planet

What is Seasonal Eating?

Basically seasonal eating is simple eating a diet based on what normally grows during that particular season. From an evolutionarily stand point we adapted and evolved to the rhythm of the planet including our nutritional needs. Like wise the planet has proven to support life even during the cold months when soil, air, and vegetation go through a cleansing . Despite the winter months seeming like a time of no growth, it is in fact a perfect time of year to for a super nutritious and delicious variety of seasonal foods including some traditional favorites as well as more new age recipes that are perfect to jazz up the table!

Benefits of Seasonal Eating

Besides seasonal eating being a hidden nutritional gem in out modern age there are several other meaningful reasons to incorporate seasonal dishes and meals into this years menu.

Supports Natural Resources & Lessens Pesticide Use:

When seasonal produce are used the ecological cost is much lower in comparison to a diet containing mostly out of season foods. Costs of keeping large greenhouses, shipping out of season produce long distance, as well as the accumulating cost of depleting the nutritional content of both the soil and food leads to a hefty debt to our planets ability to produce life sustaining resources. Another great tax on our planet and our health is the increased need to use pesticides while producing and transporting non seasonal foods.

Pesticides

Are the chemical's which are used to kill off pest's and protect crops from the impact of microorganisms, insects, diseases and other threats. Plants are naturally designed to grow to their fullest strength at different times and most naturally produce their own insect repellant. When we grow plants out of season their defenses are weaker and farmers must use more chemicals to kill bugs and fungus attacks. The problem is that the pesticide soaked soil, plants, and fruits are also absorbing these chemicals plus exposed to additional chemicals to maintain freshness while being shipped and stay on their until they are on your plate. Washing produce does remove some of these chemicals but not all and certain pesticides such as the notorious "Round Up" as well as many used today have been under scrutiny and study's have been released on possible health effects, particularly in neurological diseases, child brain development, and pre natal exposure. One study concluded 1,139 children found a 50–90% increased risk of ADHD in children with the highest urine levels of pesticides, compared to those with the lowest urine levels . Another study showed that pesticides and showed links to the development of cancers and a study on the development of Parkinson's Disease, also a neurological degeneration disorder. Other studies have shown that the regulated amounts of pesticides, herbicides and rotenoids are benign and do not cause harm or the development of illnesses. Because there is such conflicting evidence it is wise to be cautious especially as the Bio-Accumulative effects of these chemicals are not well known.

Bottom line: choose organic, wash your food and avoid chemicals as no one has ever had a pesticide deficiency.

Maximum Nutritional Values:

Much like plants natural ability to defend itself from pests, they also tend to have annual high yield points where the fruits of the plant are most abundant as well as the time they are most nutritious. Many foods that are out of season are picked, shipped, and stored for weeks before getting onto shelves and are far less nutritionally dense that fresh produce. Besides having the maximum nutrient value, seasonal eating also support's a heathy gut and the trillions of tiny bacteria that live there. ( Don't feel grossed out as "we" are mostly made out of these bacteria, in fact they out number the human cells in your body 2-1 and without them we would be very dead, very quickly.) This symbiotic relationship is known as the Gut Microbiome and Numerous Studies have shown how different seasons and terrains produce different bacteria. By regularly consuming locally grown foods naturally supports and strengthens the immune system which is mostly produced within the gut.

Supports Community Producers & Farmers:

We have gotten used to depending on corporation for a majority of our supplies including what we put on our plates. While has become a "normal" standard for many, it is a far cry from our normal biological and nutritional needs.

The fact is many foods are produced in foreign countries with low wages and low quality while the majority of the profit goes back to corporations. Instead of putting money in the pockets of industrial farming ( which is one of the BIGGEST CAUSES of pollution, carbon emictions and waste in the modern world)

Unfortunately most independent local farmers and

producer do not have the enormous amount of money on advertising that mass corporations have due to many reasons including campaigning investors, price over quality, a dash of monopolization, and a team of law savvy lawyers. Corporation depend on pricing and advertising, community business comes from relationships, trust, and fair dealing.

Saves Money:

In cadence with supporting the planet & local farmers; seasonal eating also supports your bank account more than one might first think. First off the golden rule of all supply and demand: Customer Demand is the life blood of the business, without demand a business has no profit, without profit a business is not a business.

Besides saving money both on a macro and micro spectrum, every time your make a purchase, you are voting with your dollar and exercising your power and voice in society. By supporting local farmers you are not only putting money into their pockets, you are also demonstrating your support for a way of culture that is realistically more sustainable for the community and environment.

Consider this; the amount of time, energy and resources it takes to haul ship or fly produce cross country far exceeds that which locally grown seasonal produce needs to grow. If farmers need less transport and less resources spent on growing out of season foods the cost will be lower and the food is at peak nutritional level. If your going to pay might as well pay for quality and efficiency.

Buying local seasonal produce also allows one to buy in bulk, such as a quarter or half of a cow, chicken lamb, or pig as well as the opportunity to "buy your own garden plot." Even if you live in an urban area you can pay farmers for a piece of land as small as 1/4 an acres and grow your desired produce. When your food is ready farmers pick package and either you can drive to get it or it can be shipped in less than a week and your bulked food can be stored and used when needed.

What is the formula for the most nutrition?

Seasonal + Local + Organically Grown= Optimal Nutrient Dense Foods. (Alright not as impressive as E=MC^2 but a complex question often needs only a simple answer)

Overall the only ones who do not benefit from local organic foods are the large corporations whos goal is spelled out, corporation. The quality of our food does have regulations however when profit it the prime motivation, bars can slip and this is evident in the failing health and sustainability of our planet, our food, and ourselves. By choosing seasonal foods and buying produce from farmers and local businesses, one has the opportunity to bring a rich variety of nutrient dense health enhancing delicious dishes to the table, avoid harmful pesticide's, herbicides, and rodenticides, and actively support a lifestyle that brings environmental health and community values to the forefront of business and the relationships that builds mutual success.

If you are in a highly developed area consider friending a farmer and investing in a small piece of land where you can have fresh food expertly grown and harvested by the season and either shipped or picked up in prime season.

Always remember whenever you spend money you are voting with your dollar. This is a wonderful opportunity to exercise your voice and support what you value and what you wish to see more of tomorrow.

Looking for a little Edible Inspiration? Try out a new Seasonal Dish this week

Root Vegetable Soup:

A savory seasonal blend of root vegetables and tubers that is adaptable and can be used as a side dish or add Beans & Lentils, Turkey, or Chicken to make a hearty protein packed meal. This recipe is easy to tweak for personal taste and will not disappoint in its robust flavor.

2. Onions 2 cups

3-5 Carrots 3 cups

1-3 Beets 1-3 cups

1-2 Turnips 2-3 cups

3-5 Celery stalks 3 cups

Spinach 1-3 cups

1-2 Yellow Potato 2-3 cups

5 Cups of filtered or spring water

4 cups of Organic Bone Broth ( Chicken or Beef)

1/4th tsp Sea or Himalayan salt

12 tsp Black Pepper

1/2 tsp Turmeric

1/4th tsp Cinnamon

1-2 tsp Oregano

.Combine filtered water and bone broth into a large pot Med-High Heat
Chop veggies, roots, and tubers and add to water
Add Spices to flavor
Add Beans, lentils, Turkey, or Chicken after about 10 mins of simmering
Allow the soup to simmer for 10-30 mins (Pull Meat if added)
Serve Up!

Roasted Acorn Squash Sweet Potato & Seasoned Baked Chicken

1 large Acorn Squash

1-4 Sweet Potato

4 Skinless Boneless Chicken Fillets

2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Pinch of Himalayan Salt

1/8 tsp Black pepper

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Rosemary

Pre heat over to 350*
Wash acorn squash and sweet potato's and cut into cubes 1/2-1 inch
Using a glass pan lightly coat the bottom with olive oil and lightly coat cubed acorn squash and sweet potato with olive oil ( you can add a few TBSP of water if desired)
Sprinkle a pinch of Himalayan salt pepper and cinnamon over dish and put into oven

Next in another glass pan added 1/4 cup of filtered water
Take chicken fillets and lightly coat in olive oil
Add a sprinkle of pepper salt and Rosemary onto chicken fillets
Either using just the glass pan or using a grate over top place chicken fillets evenly on pan and put into oven.
Check both dishes after 1/2 hour and cook to personal preference

Serve Up!!

This dish also goes great with a tossed salad with lots of dark leafy greens like spinach and arugula and a zesty olive oil or avocado based vinaigrette

Baked Apples with Walnut crumble

3-5 Fresh organic apples

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp organic butter or cold pressed coconut oil

1tsp Raw Honey

Pre heat oven to 350*
Dice apples into slivers and place in a glass pan
Evenly sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on apple slices
Allow 20 mins baking time
In a small bowl mix chopped walnuts and melted butter
When apples are done sprinkle walnuts on top and drizzles honey lightly over apple slices.
Allow to sit in over for 5-10 mins