A Guide to Eating Seasonally In Winter
When I think of eating seasonally in the winter, The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder comes to mind. They truly only ate potatoes, homemade bread, butter, and meat for the entire winter. That is truly eating seasonally.
Now a days, eating seasonally is no longer a modern practice. We have lost the beauty of God’s design in the midst of our culture of immediate gratification. We have access to strawberries all year round. We can go to the grocery store and get corn on the cob in the middle of January. We truly are living in luxury. But like most things, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily what’s best. In a way, I’m grateful for our modern advances which have allowed me to taste mangos and bananas and other amazing produce that I otherwise would never have the opportunity to try living in the midwest USA. But I’m also saddened by our complete disconnect from nature and where our food comes from. There has to be a balance that we can maintain.
i believe that eating seasonally is something that so desperately needs to be brought back into the rhythm of our lives.
Our disconnect from the food system is leading to a lack of nutrition and a reliance on convenience. It’s time to get back to the roots of local and sustainable eating, connecting with our food and its sources. I have found eating seasonally to be the best way to do this. And it’s not as hard or expensive as it sounds. It’s actually easy, healthier, cheaper, and more sustainable. Let’s dive in and see what it means to eat seasonally in the season of winter.
WHAT DOES EATING SEASONALLY MEAN?
Just because something is available in the grocery store doesn’t mean it’s in season.
God created certain fruits and vegetables to naturally flourish at a certain time of the year. Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Eating seasonally means fully embracing the current season and the earth’s offerings during that time. Simply put, eating seasonally means eating the fruits and vegetables that naturally grow in abundance and organically during specific times of the year.
We aren’t used to eating this way. Like I said above, we have access to anything we want at any time of the year. I find this to fall in the same category of consumerism as purchasing a tee shirt from an unethical big name brand—it should be avoided.
Once you begin eating seasonally, you will feel more in tune with your body and the nutrients that it needs. You will be able to feel your body’s natural cravings transition with each season.
WHY IS EATING SEASONALLY IMPORTANT?
natural rhythms
Eating food that is not in season can go as far as throwing your mind and body out of alignment. You know that antsy, frantic, agonizing feeling of wishing for warmer weather when it’s cold? Or wishing for colder weather when it’s hot? By fully syncing not only our day-to-day habits with the current season, but also our eating habits, we will find it easier to enjoy the current season, no matter the weather or hardships.
Aligning our eating habits with this truth will lead to better nutrition, increased energy, and the ability to find the gift of each season.
sustainability
Produce that is out of season is firstly, forced to grow when it’s not its natural time to grow. This often times means more chemicals are used, as well as more energy and resources. Secondly, the out of season produce is shipped very far distances to reach our grocery store shelves. For example, strawberries can’t grow in Northern America in the winter, so in order to get them to our grocery stores we have to source them from Chile or Mexico. That’s a far trip that uses a lot of resources and creates a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.
nutrition
Like we mentioned above, because out of season produce is shipped from far away, the produce has to be prematurely picked before it’s ripe. Studies show that prematurely picked produce lacks nutrients compared to in season produce that is grown naturally and allowed to ripen on the plant. Not only is in-season produce healthier but it tastes better too. If you’ve ever tasted a winter strawberry, you know what I mean. It only makes sense that God’s way of doing things results in a healthier, tastier, more sustaining outcome.
Foods that are in season contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body specifically needs for that current season. For example, in winter we need extra Vitamin C to boost our immune system and keep sickness away. Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits, which are in season in the winter, are extremely high in Vitamin C and antioxidants that keep your immune system strong!
In winter, we need foods that “stick to our ribs”. Being cold burns more calories than being hot, which is why we find ourselves craving heartier, warmer meals in the winter like soups and stews, and lighter foods like fruits and salads in the summer. Potatoes and carrots, which have been preserved and packed away for the winter months are high in fiber and carbs which keep you full and satisfied in the long winter months!
The list goes on.
price
Produce that is in season is in abundance and local, therefore prices are often cheaper. Price is a good indicator of whether or not something is in season when you’re at the grocery store. For example, you may notice that when it’s squash and potato season in the fall and winter, they will most likely be sourced from somewhere nearby therefore having to travel less of a distance. This makes them cheaper. But when you see a tiny pack of strawberries for $6 in the middle of January, that’s because they are not in season, therefore it took a lot of energy and resources to grow them and to ship them, which is why they’re so expensive. Produce that’s not in season is not in abundance because it’s not their natural growing season and environment, which all leads to increased price. Not only will sticking to seasonal foods help your health, but it will save you money as well!
HOW DO I EAT SEASONALLY IN WINTER?
Eating seasonally in winter is very different from eating seasonally in spring, summer, and fall when things are growing fresh. This of course depends on the area you live. In milder climates, you may be able to grow fresh food all year round! For those of us up north, winter is for eating what has been preserved during the growing months. From the beginning of time our ancestors spent the harvest season putting up root crops like potatoes, carrots, beets as well as meat, grains, and canned produce to get them through the winter. It is only within the last century or so that we have stopped preserving our own food.
“The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard.”
Eating seasonally in winter actually begins in the summer. What flavors do you want to preserve in the peak of their abundance to enjoy in the bleak of winter? There is a variety of ways you can do this. You can freeze, ferment, dehydrate, or can. You can get your produce from your own garden, the local farmer’s market, or even your local grocery store.
Although fresh is usually always best, this only goes for when the produce is in season. Fresh foods like berries, tomatoes, corn, and cucumbers that you see in the grocery stores in the middle of winter should be avoided. Instead opt for what you have preserved yourself or for frozen and canned veggies from trustworthy brands that are usually picked and preserved at the peak of their season and ripeness, so they are packed with their natural nutrients. In winter, potatoes, garlic, onions, and carrots should be the base of our winter meals with touches of seasons past preserved. For example, some of my favorite winter meals that I have come to love is a simple meat dish prepared with potatoes, a loaf of sourdough bread, maybe some cheese, and a couple cans of goods we have preserved in the fall like pickles or applesauce. It adds cheer and freshness to an otherwise heavy meal.
The best way to know whether or not something is in season is to go to a local farmers market or click the button below:
Planning your meals and shopping lists around what is in season will make a big difference. I’ve shared some meal inspiration below. I also love using Pinterest to find seasonal meals. It may also be handy to print out a list of what’s in season and hang it up on your fridge. I’ve created 4 FREE printables that you will be sent straight to your inbox when you fill out the form below!
WINTER RECIPE IDEAS
breakfast:
Pumpkin Sourdough French Toast
Vanilla Cranberry Orange Muffins
lunch and dinner:
Caramelized Onion Pear Grilled Cheese
Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame
Chicken Pot Pie with Flaky Einkorn Crust
snacks and desserts:
This is not something to seek perfection on. I love that I have access to things that don’t grow in my area that have been shipped in from another state, like cranberries for my favorite cranberry pear pie! But I also love getting the bulk of my produce from my garden and local farmers in the summer, taking the time to preserve it for for winter, and planning my winter meals based around what we’ve “put by” in the larder.
If eating seasonally is something you would like to bring back into the rhythm of your life, avoid restricting or eliminating certain foods. When certain foods all of a sudden become “off limits” it only sets us back and leaves us very hungry! Instead, replace and crowd out out-of-season foods with in-season foods. The more you do so, the more you’ll get the hang of it. Start by focusing on what’s in season in winter, purchase those things, base your meals around them, and then fill in the gaps from there. You’re doing great!
for More seasonal recipes…
Harvest and Home is a collection of recipes for autumn and winter. Warming, nourishing, and traditional— this ebook is like taking a look at Kaetlyn’s personal recipe box.
In 40+ pages, Kaetlyn shares recipes and food ideas that celebrate harvest and home. This ebook will equip you to eat seasonally in autumn and winter with various recipes such as: Craisin Sourdough Loaf, Butternut Sage Soup, Pumpkin French Toast, Harvest Salsa, Sourdough Sausage Stuffing, and more! Collected, created, tweaked, passed down— these are now yours to make and master. Let us return to real food and true nourishment together this season.
