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It’s January, albeit already halfway through, and that means a new seasonal food guide! If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I like to let the seasons guide what I should eat And if you’re new here, welcome and please enjoy the first installment of 2024’s In Season: Produce Guide!

First, let’s talk about it. What is seasonal eating?

Seasonal eating is a philosphy that encourages you to base your diet off of foods that are produced locally and eat them (mostly) at the time when they are available.

Fruit and vegetables naturally grow in cycles, and ripen during a certain season each year. When they are in season, they are harvested. (We mostly think of fruit and vegetables as seasonal; however, some fish and meat can also be seasonal.)

Now our modern lifestyle of convenience has caused us to lose touch with these basic ideas. With industrialization making once-seasonal food available year-round, and the fact that we spend more and more of our lives inside, it’s not always easy to know what to eat when. It is now common to eat raspberries and tomatoes in the dead of winter and butternut squash and Brussels sprouts in May. But by doing this, we lose touch with our environment and don’t reap the benefits of eating what’s in season. Luckily, Mother Nature knows best and provides us with the nutrients that we need for each season and farmers markets are abundant with her bounty. By living in harmony with our environment and the wisdom of nature, we can help prevent illness and imbalance and keep vibrant in our bodies, which are some of the defining characteristics of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian wisdom meaning the ‘Science of Life’. Ayurveda, a philosophy I try to embrace in my every day, is a lifestyle and health system helping us to understand that we are nature and we are of nature. And there is a special term for eating seasonally: ritucharya.

Eating seasonally is a holistic way to reconnect with ourselves and nature on a deeper level and know what it feels like to truly live in harmony with the rhythms of the seasons. That’s where the concept of ritucharya comes in – with “ritu” translating to “season” and “charya” translating to “to follow” — it breaks down what to eat during each season to maintain health and prevent disease. Each season has a different effect on our bodies, and eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished, energized, and aligned. 

According to Ayurveda, the year is divided into teach periods, each containing three seasons for a total of 6 annual seasons. We are currently in Shishira Ritu, a wet, cold season which lasts from mid -January until mid-March. In Shishira Ritu, the goal of this season is to keep you warm and nourished and keep that digestive fire burning strong! Principles of Ayurveda advise us to eat lots of warming foods, fermented dishes, and good fats, while avoiding foods that are cold, light, and dry. This is just a brief overview, barely even skimming the surface, but I like to reference, as it’s one of the philosophies I use to guide my eating for each season. Check back for more, as I’ll go into depth a little more about each season as they occur.

other benefits to eating seasonally

• It’s better for your health — Foods that are grown and consumed during their appropriate seasons are more nutritionally dense.

• It’s better for the environment — Foods don't have to travel nearly as far, so the associated fuel emissions, energy use, and transportation costs are minimal. 

• It’s usually cheaper — When a fruit or veggie is in season, it's abundant, doesn’t have associated transport costs, and, not surprisingly, it's available at a lower price.

• Support your local economy — A huge advantage to eating seasonally is that you can be a part of your community, and when people in your community do well, your whole local economy does well.

• Become self-sufficient — Learning to grow some of your own food and cook from scratch will put you on a great path to self-sufficiency.

• It tastes better — Mass-produced produce intended to meet global consumer demand tends to suffer from a lack of flavor while naturally ripened fruits and vegetables grown and picked in season are typically full of flavor and nutrients; and, if it tastes better, you’ll want to eat more!

What to eat right now

Have you noticed yourself feeling sluggish or more tired? Maybe feeling a bit sad or in a funk (some ways to get out of that funk)? Craving heartier and warmer foods?

Food can help, as it can have a deep impact your mood. One of the steps you can take now to better your frame of mind and mood in the winter months is add more warming and nourishing foods to your day. Now is the time to eat sweet, sour, salty, and fatty foods, as well as fermented foods and spices to keep your digestive fire burning strong. In this period, you also want to avoid foods that are cold, light, and dry. The ideal Shishira diet includes lots of dairy products, root vegetables, apples, dates, grapes, rice, beans, and sweets (in moderation, of course!).

From juicy immune-boosting citrus, to vibrant kiwi, to sweet and earthy root vegetables and warm and inviting aromatics…this seasonal produce guide is full of fruits and veggies to inspire you to eat joyfully throughout this month.

• Colorful citrus fruits are high in Vitamin C, and we already know that we need ample vitamin C to help boost our immune systems when colds and flus tend to be more frequent.

• Break out your slow cooker and add root vegetables and winter squashes to nourishing soups and stews to help keep our bodies warm.

• Take pleasure, appreciate each aroma, texture, and taste as you try something new, like sweet persimmon in our salads.

• Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and turnips are all delicious fermented into Kimchi or sauerkraut that can help aid your digestive system.

As we embark on a new year, January's seasonal eating offers a wonderful opportunity to nourish our bodies with fresh, locally available produce. Embrace the variety of winter greens, citrus fruits, root vegetables, and winter squash to create flavorful and wholesome meals that support your well-being. By aligning our diets with the season, we not only contribute to our health but also celebrate the beauty and diversity of the natural world that provides us with these nourishing gifts. As a I challenge you to play a game, make a promise, and try adding one new fruit or vegetable that’s in season to your meal prep each week. Cheers to a vibrant and delicious start to the year through the joys of January seasonal eating!

If you try this challenge, or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I LOVE to see your photos!