The Benefits of Seasonal Eating: Fresh, Nutrient-Dense, and Budget-Friendly

As the year passes, and as each new season settles upon us, we are blessed with abundant and various seasonal crops and produce. While in most mainstream grocery stores, we can now find our favorite foods all year round; however, many prefer to eat what is being grown specifically in that season. Here in South Carolina, entities such as Certified SC Grown is just one example of an organization that is working to bridge the gap between field and plate, making finding local, seasonal fruits and vegetables more attainable.

Eating a well-balanced diet is crucial for maintaining good health, and one way to enhance the quality of your meals while being mindful of your budget is by embracing seasonal eating. Seasonal eating refers to the practice of consuming foods that are naturally harvested during a specific time of year when they are at their peak freshness and flavor. Not only does this approach offer a variety of taste sensations, but it also provides numerous health benefits. In this blog post, we will explore how eating seasonally allows you to access the freshest, most nutrient-dense foods at a lower cost and how this can be beneficial for managing your overall health and the health of the environment.

When we eat foods picked at harvest, we are consuming them at their optimal nutritional value, as they are picked at the peak of their cultivation season. They are also less likely to have been subjected to extensive transportation, lengthy storage, or artificial ripening techniques. These fresh fruits and vegetables contain the most vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants as they were grown in the best conditions and at the right temperature. For example, one study found that broccoli grown in the fall has nearly twice the