Why Eating Seasonally Matters
You may have heard that eating seasonally is beneficial to you and your community, but you’re probably still wondering if it really matters. If you can get apples all year, why not eat apples all year? Well, we are here to tell you! In this post we’ll go over what eating seasonally means, why it should matter to you, and how you can do it. We will also give you a peek at our Summer Menu so you can see how our Chef has incorporated seasonal produce into his creations.
What is eating seasonally?
Eating seasonally means eating produce that is currently being harvested at its peak (for example – eating strawberries in the Summer or pomegranates in the Winter). Back before our current agricultural technology, there was no choice but to eat seasonally. Now, we can make produce available all year round. This may seem like a great idea at first, but in the words of Jurassic Park’s Dr. Malcom, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
Why does eating seasonally matter to me?
Eating seasonally can have a positive effect on your health, the taste of your food, and your wallet! Research shows that the longer a fruit or vegetable can grow on its plant, the more nutrient-rich it is. Seasonal produce will have more vitamins and antioxidants than produce that has been stored for long periods of time. You will notice that produce purchased seasonally actually tastes better. Produce that is out of season is picked from the plant early, shipped in a refrigerated truck, and then reheated to artificially ripen. Each of these steps has a negative effect on the taste of the produce. Perhaps the most tangible benefit is that seasonal produce is cheaper. Since local farmers will have an abundance of what is in season, grocery stores will not have to pay to ship or store the produce. This brings down the cost for you, the consumer, as well!
How can I start eating seasonally?
You can start by shopping at your local farmers markets. The produce at farmers markets is fresher, and it will be cheaper because they don’t have to make up for shipping and storing costs. If you do shop at a grocery store you can look to the prices to tell you what is in season. Seasonal produce will often be cheaper and on more obvious displays and sales because the store most likely has a large supply of it that they need to move while it is still ripe. If you are eating out instead of cooking, you can choose your meal off the restaurant’s seasonal menu.
The easiest way to see what is in season in your area is to look it up online. There are a lot of resources on the internet that can help you find seasonal produce – for example the Seasonal Food Guide. Below is an example of what produce is in season this month.
Our Summer Menu
Here at Creations in Cuisine Catering, we love to use seasonal produce. Our amazing chef, Chef Tony Rea, has come up with an incredible Summer Menu for all to enjoy! We’ll list some of our favorites from each course below. We would love to cater selections from our Summer Menu at your next event. Please contact one of our Specialists today to see what seasonal creations we can make for you! Imagine the possibilities!
Selections from Creations in Cuisine Catering Summer Menu
Salad and Soup
Chilled Asparagus Soup with Lemon Cream
Vine-Ripened Tomato Gazpacho
Field Greens with Onion, Pearl Tomatoes, Cucumber, and Lemon Vinaigrette
Grilled Steak Salad with Onion, Tomato, Corn, Grilled Potatoes, Romaine, Blue Cheese, and Sherry Chive Vinaigrette
Summer Melons and Prosciutto
Main Course
Turkey Wraps with Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, and Basil Aioli
Caprese Panini
Heirloom Tomato and Roasted Pepper Tartlet
Lemon and Thyme Breast of Chicken
Crab Stuffed Prawns with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
Dessert
New York Cheesecake with Fresh Balsamic Strawberries
Flourless Chocolate Cake with Triple Berry Compote and Sweet Whipped Cream
Strawberry Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce and Sweet Whipped Cream
Lemon Bars