Eating Seasonally: Summer

One of the best changes that you can do in your diet is to eat seasonally.  It's what our ancestors use to do because they had no choice.  In the modern world, we can have tropical fruits shipped in the winter and winter vegetables in the summer.  However, our bodies metabolize food differently in the seasons according to the traditional "sciences" of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.  Also, it makes sense.  In the winter, you're not going to be drinking iced coffees, although I've seen many people do that. 


Summer just started (in the Northern hemisphere) last week and for those of you who haven't figured it out, it gets hot in the summer!  Eating with the season means that we need to balance our overheated bodies to equilibrium  or to feel cooler for when we combat the outdoor heat.  That's why we don't normally crave stews in the summer.  Instead, fresh fruit and salads are preferred.  Summer is the season of abundance so a diet loaded with more fruits and vegetables is definitely the ideal diet.  Some suggestions of foods to eat by The World's Healthiest Foods is "fruits like strawberries, apple, pear, and plum; vegetables like summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and corn; and spices and seasonings like peppermint and cilantro."  The BBC Good Food site has a great Seasonality Table that breaks down what's seasonal by month! Also, eating seasonally can easily be accomplished by going to the farmers' markets and conversing with the experts on seasonal eating, the farmers!  These are all great resources to turn to for advice on eating seasonally.  I also encourage you to start listening to what your body is telling you.  If you're craving watermelon, don't reach for that hot apple pie for dessert.  What are your thoughts on eating seasonally?

Happy Tuesday and Happier Eating!