Self 5 REASONS TO EAT WITH THE SEASONS Why its important to try to eat seasonally and buy locally if you can Words: Georgina Wintersgill I f you do most of your shopping in supermarkets, its very easy to be unaware of whats in season, when. Fruit and veg aisles tend to carry similar produce all year round, so you can have strawberries on your shopping list every week if you want. This unlimited choice is considered normal now, but its not necessarily the most nutritious, or delicious, way to eat. Here, we explore the benefits of eating with the seasons. Growing things out of season isnt a very natural process and probably takes away from the flavour WHATS IN SEASON? Autumn is an abundant time of year, when you can feast on the following: Fruits: apples, blackberries, damsons, pears, plums, raspberries, redcurrants. Veg: artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, courgettes, cucumber, French beans, kale, leeks, lettuce, marrows, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, rocket, runner beans, squashes, swede, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnips, watercress. 1 Better taste Ever grumbled about tasteless tomatoes, plums or strawberries? Chances are, youre eating them out of season. Dr Sarah Schenker, a dietitian and author of the British Dietetic Associations food fact sheet on arthritis, says seasonal food simply tastes better. Theres more flavour, she says. Growing things out of season isnt a very natural process and that probably takes away from the flavour. Fresher food is likely to taste better than produce thats travelled halfway round the world to your local supermarket. Buying seasonal fruit and veg at a local farm or, best of all, growing your own ensures the shortest possible time between plot and plate. 2 More nutritious Fruit and veg may have greater nutritional value in season, Dr Schenker says. There may be a higher quantity of some vitamins, such as vitamin C. 22 Inspire Autumn 22 pp22-24 Eat with the seasons.indd 22 16/08/2022 17:08