Benefits of Eating Locally & In Sync With the Season
As I begin the last quarter of the year, I’ve been reflecting on embracing the chaos that can come with the change in seasons and preparing for the holidays. How do I THRIVE during this time of change? After all, change is inevitable. I’ve found that the more I lean into the shift and learn strategies to embrace the wildness of the season, the more I am able to be fully in the moment and thriving instead of just surviving!
Over the next weeks, I will be sharing some of my favorite wellness practices to embrace during the change from summer to fall.
This week I will explore the benefits of eating seasonally!
When you make a commitment to eating seasonally and locally when possible, you get the most nourishment from the food you buy.
Eating food that is grown in your region preserves many of the nutrients, as it is truly full of life and energy. Each day that produce sits once picked off the plant; it loses nutrients. The quicker you can get it into your body, the more nutritional benefit you will receive. Think about what you would rather eat … a sweet potato from California that has traveled on a truck for days or even weeks before finally getting on the shelf at the grocery store or a sweet potato straight from a farm nearby? The benefits are great, including the microbes from the soil nearby are just what your body needs to adapt to the changes around you.
The fall is a time of shifting inward in preparation for the winter as the summer’s energy begins to subside. Eating locally grown food is a great way to connect with the earth’s energy and allow your body to adapt to seasonal shifts easily.
Seasonal change can be stressful on the body and this is one way we can become more in tune with what’s going on in nature. Go to your local farmers market and/or take notice of what is fresh and local in the grocery store to see what’s available. Be open to trying new foods and recipes. Perhaps make a goal of trying one new food a week or a month if you aren’t used to experimenting with new foods. Find a method that works for you. I invite you to be open to trying something new and you might surprise yourself and expand your palette while you are at it. Your body will certainly thank you for it.
Right now, in Austin, I’ve been noticing eggplants, pumpkins, squashes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, arugula, pears, apples, radishes, lettuces, green beans, root vegetables, pecans, okra, wild mushrooms, tomatoes are in season, just to name a few. So many interesting flavors to play around with. Add in some spices to increase the overall energy of the meal, as well as help with digestion, and you are set with a delicious, nutritious and satisfying meal. There are many possibilities for yummy recipes.
For further information on seasonal eating, check out Ayurveda’s guru Dr. John Douillard’s Seasonal Diet challenge or his October video below.
I love all things fall and am excited to start experimenting with new recipes! I invite you to experiment with seasonal foods and notice how you feel afterwards. I would love to hear you feedback as well. Enjoy!!
What is your favorite autumn flavor? What do you do during this seasonal transition to feel more grounded? One of my favorites is curry. Below is a recipe our family loves that we discovered this fall! Enjoy!
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I made this recipe nourishing veggie curry last week with our haul from the local farmer’s market. At my house, we like to get our kids involved by picking out what looks interesting while shopping, including them in the cooking process to taking them to local farms or growing things in our own garden.