Explore Seasonal Eating: It Tastes Good and Is Good for You!
Just call me “Mrs. Green Genes” (for those of you who remember Captain Kangaroo). Gardening is in my genes, so I love the feeling of harvesting fresh organic vegetables from a garden that I planted and nurtured. I come from a long line of gardeners and farmers, and I grew up with a variety of fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits from the gardens of my parents, aunts and uncles.
My parents’ backyard vegetable garden and fruit orchard area expanded every year, eventually encompassing most of the back yard. My dad would experiment with something new in the garden each year. One year he planted asparagus, which takes 3 years to mature, but it was worth the wait! When I see that canned, mushy asparagus at the supermarket, I wonder, “Who thinks this tastes good?”
As a result of these gardening genes, eating seasonally is very natural for me. I know that a freshly picked summer tomato, carrot and cucumber are the beginnings of a delicious salad. Salads always taste better in the summer. Lately, I’ve been enjoying seasonal strawberries and blueberries, which are so much sweeter this time of the year.
“Fresh produce in season is always more nutritious and flavorful.”
Chef Lisa Woodie
Seasonal Eating Benefits
Before agriculture began relying on science, you could only find fresh produce during its growing season because of weather and other natural growing conditions. Now, it’s easy to find all sorts of fruits and vegetables year-round. But fresh produce in season is always more nutritious and flavorful. Growing and consuming crops seasonally is also good for the environment because it allows the environment to cycle through its natural resources without human intervention. Learn more about the research related to seasonal eating Here.
In North Carolina, we are fortunate to have a long growing season for a variety of fruits and vegetables. The community Victory Garden that I highlighted in articles last year has already produced almost 2,800 pounds of vegetables through May! Read more about the community Victory Garden Here.
Good Season to Try New Foods
We are on the cusp of an abundance of summer crops in this part of the country. I encourage you to explore more seasonal eating instead of eating the same vegetables and fruits year-round. The quality and flavor of produce in season is better because it will thrive without harmful additives. Crops that are in high demand year-round are modified to grow in bulk and be disease-resistant, but this also removes some of the nutritious benefits. So an added bonus of seasonal eating is that it may boost your vitamin and mineral intake!
If there are certain vegetables and fruits that you love, you can grow or buy them in-season and preserve them for use later. It is a little work, but canning, freezing and pickling are good options to have your favorites all year.
Below is a recipe for a delicious Mexican-inspired salad that takes advantage of the summer crop bounty. Enjoy!
Cucumber, Tomato & Corn Salad
Cucumber, Tomato & Corn Salad
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber diced
- 1½ cups grape tomatoes halved
- 2 ears fresh sweet corn
- 1 red or orange bell pepper chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 t cumin
- 2 T red wine vinegar
- Your favorite hot sauce (I like Franks) to taste
- Sea salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Shuck, silk and clean ears of corn. Then boil for about 8 minutes so that kernels are cooked but still crisp. Cool corn and remove from the cob with a sharp knife.
- Toss all vegetables together in a large bowl (that has a tight-fitting lid). Add vinegar, hot sauce, cilantro and spices and toss again. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour so flavors can meld. Toss again just before serving.
- This salad is delicious as is, or you can a little feta cheese for another layer of flavor.
About the Author:
Chef Lisa Woodie, owner of Homemade Fresh, LLC, provides tips and recipes to nourish your body with whole food fuel. She relocated her business to the Hendersonville area in 2022 after serving clients in Charlotte for 11 years. Homemade Fresh is a meal preparation business that personalizes meal plans based on each client’s tastes, preferences, and dietary requirements. She plans your meals, shops for the ingredients, prepares and packages the meals, and leaves them in your refrigerator with easy heat-and-eat instructions. She also provides service for dinner parties, paired food and wine tastings, events with hors d’oeuvres, and other types of catered events. For more information, visit www.homemadefresh.net.
Are you interested in meals that are healthy AND convenient?
See how I’ve helped others achieve their goals!
Such a heartfelt article Chef Lisa! I can’t wait to try this recipe!