Every season brings new culinary splendors to our tables. Fruits and vegetables thrive at different points of the year. There are some vegetables that love the long hours of sunshine that come with summer, and others that handle the harsh cold temperatures of winter with gusto.
Your medical weight loss program provides you with a good opportunity to take a step back and evaluate the many flavors and foods available for you to enjoy. Once you break free from the confines of hunger you can appreciate the healthy items that are around you and create a healthy diet plan that will help you maintain your weight loss long after your medical weight loss diet comes to an end.
Why Eat Seasonally?
When an item is in season you can eat it fresh. A lot of fruits and vegetables are flash-frozen right after they are picked and will stay frozen until you decide to defrost them. While these frozen vegetables are still a healthy choice, they aren’t always that appetizing. The process of freezing veggies and then defrosting them causes produce to lose their natural flavor and texture—not to mention weaken the nutrient content of each bite you take.
Eating in season means you are getting fresh produce that is packed with vitamins and nutrients. Plus, items that are in season are usually widely available, which drives down the cost of these healthy items.
Here is a quick list of some popular fruits and vegetables and when they are in season:
Spring:
- Apricots
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Bananas
- Green beans
- Spinach
- Mushrooms
- Strawberries
Summer:
- Bell peppers
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Blackberries
- Kiwi
- Plums
- Peaches
- Okra
- Raspberries
Fall:
- Brussels sprouts
- Beets
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cranberries
- Pumpkin
- Pear
- Sweet potatoes
Winter:
- Potatoes
- Oranges
- Onions
- Lemons
- Kale
- Grapefruit
- Winter squash
Try finding these foods during their appropriate season near you by checking out local farmer’s markets in the East Brunswick area. In addition to the East Brunswick Market that opens on the weekends during the summer at the Civic Center, consider trying the Kelemen Farm Market, open seven days a week 9am to 6pm, located on Cranbury Rd in East Brunswick.
