Seasonal ingredients are super important when planning meals each week. They help make your food more nutritious, tasty, and interesting. When you use seasonal fruits and vegetables, it not only helps farmers in your area, but also helps you eat healthier.
The USDA says that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is key to staying healthy. They give us essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Let’s look at how we can add seasonal ingredients into our weekly meal plans to create balanced meals.
More Nutrients: Seasonal fruits and veggies are picked when they are fresh and ripe, which means they have more nutrients. For example, research shows that fresh produce can have up to 120% more nutrients than items that were picked out of season and stored for weeks.
More Antioxidants: Seasonal fruits and vegetables usually have more antioxidants. A study found that seasonal foods can have as much as 60% more antioxidants than those that are out of season.
Better Taste: Seasonal ingredients are often fresher and tastier. A survey found that 67% of people think that fresh-picked fruits and veggies taste better. This can make meals more enjoyable and encourage better eating habits.
Cheaper: Seasonal ingredients usually cost less because they are more plentiful. For instance, in-season tomatoes can cost about 2.49 per pound. This can really help lower your grocery bills.
Less Waste: Using seasonal ingredients can help cut down on food waste. It's reported that around 40% of food in the U.S. gets wasted, and fruits and veggies are some of the most thrown away. Planning meals with seasonal produce can help you buy what you need and avoid spoilage.
Here are some simple ways to add seasonal ingredients into your weekly meal plans:
Check What's in Season: Find out what fruits and vegetables are in season where you live. In winter, for example, you might find sweet potatoes and kale, while summer could have fresh berries and zucchini.
Make a Seasonal Menu: Plan your weekly meals around these in-season foods. In summer, you might want to enjoy salads with spinach and strawberries. In winter, try making soups with root vegetables.
Cook in Batches: Make larger amounts of meals that feature seasonal ingredients and freeze any leftovers for later. This way, you’ll always have healthy, seasonal meals ready to go.
By focusing on seasonal ingredients, meal planning becomes healthier and more affordable! It also gives you a chance to try out different recipes. Making an effort to include these foods in your weekly meals can help improve your health and make your meals more enjoyable.
Seasonal ingredients are super important when planning meals each week. They help make your food more nutritious, tasty, and interesting. When you use seasonal fruits and vegetables, it not only helps farmers in your area, but also helps you eat healthier.
The USDA says that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is key to staying healthy. They give us essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Let’s look at how we can add seasonal ingredients into our weekly meal plans to create balanced meals.
More Nutrients: Seasonal fruits and veggies are picked when they are fresh and ripe, which means they have more nutrients. For example, research shows that fresh produce can have up to 120% more nutrients than items that were picked out of season and stored for weeks.
More Antioxidants: Seasonal fruits and vegetables usually have more antioxidants. A study found that seasonal foods can have as much as 60% more antioxidants than those that are out of season.
Better Taste: Seasonal ingredients are often fresher and tastier. A survey found that 67% of people think that fresh-picked fruits and veggies taste better. This can make meals more enjoyable and encourage better eating habits.
Cheaper: Seasonal ingredients usually cost less because they are more plentiful. For instance, in-season tomatoes can cost about 2.49 per pound. This can really help lower your grocery bills.
Less Waste: Using seasonal ingredients can help cut down on food waste. It's reported that around 40% of food in the U.S. gets wasted, and fruits and veggies are some of the most thrown away. Planning meals with seasonal produce can help you buy what you need and avoid spoilage.
Here are some simple ways to add seasonal ingredients into your weekly meal plans:
Check What's in Season: Find out what fruits and vegetables are in season where you live. In winter, for example, you might find sweet potatoes and kale, while summer could have fresh berries and zucchini.
Make a Seasonal Menu: Plan your weekly meals around these in-season foods. In summer, you might want to enjoy salads with spinach and strawberries. In winter, try making soups with root vegetables.
Cook in Batches: Make larger amounts of meals that feature seasonal ingredients and freeze any leftovers for later. This way, you’ll always have healthy, seasonal meals ready to go.
By focusing on seasonal ingredients, meal planning becomes healthier and more affordable! It also gives you a chance to try out different recipes. Making an effort to include these foods in your weekly meals can help improve your health and make your meals more enjoyable.