The importance of eating with the seasons

The concept of eating with the seasons stems from ancient practices, and essentially breaks down what to eat during each season to maintain an optimal level of health and prevent disease.

Not that long ago, most people were aware of the best time to grow and pick various fruits and vegetables, however, the modern lifestyle based on convenience has caused many of us lose touch with food seasonality.

Food in season tastes better, has less impact on the environment and is usually more affordable, but there’s also a multitude of health benefits associated with eating seasonal foods.

Joanna Sochan at Naturimedica is an online naturopath, committed to helping people transform their lives by becoming healthy and well naturally. We are often asked about the best gut health diet or blastocystis hominis diet, so we aim to make important health information readily accessible to everyone.

Read on to find out more.

What does “eating seasonally” mean?

Fundamentally, eating seasonally is about knowing when certain fruits and vegetables grow naturally in your climate, and then eating them in those seasons. In Australia, this can vary widely across the country, and many types of produce grow in more than one season.

How does eating seasonally benefit your health? 

Fruit and Vegetables in Season Are More Nutritionally Dense

When produce is picked at its ripest, you get the maximum amount of nutrients the produce has to offer. Many fresh foods lose certain nutrients including some anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, folate and carotenes over time once it’s harvested. The longer produce sits in storage, travels to supermarkets, and sits on shelves, the more nutrient depletion can occur.

Out of Season Produce May Contain Added Chemicals

Foods grown out of season aren’t able to follow their natural growing and ripening rhythms. This means ripening agents are often used, including chemicals, gases, and heat processes. Some produce is also coated with an edible chemical film/waxes to protect it while it is in storage and in transit.

Seasonal Produce Supports Your Body’s Natural Nutritional Needs

Our bodies need a good variety of foods to thrive and we crave different foods as the seasons change.

In winter, nature provides citrus fruits which are high in Vitamin C. This is important for preventing and fighting off infections such as colds and influenza. Winter vegetables are also perfect for comforting and warming meals such as stews, soups and casseroles.

Summer produces stone fruits which provide beta-carotenes that help protect against sun damage. Summer fruits are also hydrating and sweet, perfect for a refreshing snack and cool for tasty summer salads.

Light spring salads and green juices detoxify the body after winter.

Importantly, eating with the seasons prevents or lessens many seasonal allergies. It also has a positive effect on better regulating your weight naturally.

Seasonal Produce Connects Us with Nature and the Earth

Eating seasonally bring us back to how our ancestors ate and the foods they grew locally in their own gardens. I encourage you to become a modern “locavore” i.e. choose food that’s grown locally as much as you can! You can grow your own herbs anywhere – in pots, on the balcony, even nature strips.

Eating this way also synchronises our bodies with the world around us and the cycles of nature. We are of the Earth but we often act as though we are separate from our natural surroundings and are ignoring the laws of nature. These disconnected relationships with our world create many health and metabolic imbalances or problems I see in clinic, including feeling depressed or anxious, heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, to name a few.

Seasonal eating also helps to establish meaningful relationship with the environment. This can have profound healing effects for our wellbeing and happiness.

What is in season and when?

With innovations in technology and transport, most fruits and vegetables can be purchased from your local supermarket all year round, so it’s easy to lose track of which fruits and veggies are actually at their freshest and most flavourful when each season rolls around. Where you live makes a difference in what’s available during each season, but the below general lists will help to give you an idea of foods by each season.

Here are the lists of some of the fruits and vegetables in season in the Eastern states of Australia – New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Spring – September to November

Asparagus, avocado, apples

Bananas, beetroot, broccoli, broccolini, brussels sprouts

Cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, cantaloupe, cherries, corn

Leafy greens such as kale and lettuce, leek, lemon, lime

Mushrooms, mandarins

Oranges

Peas, potatoes, pumpkin, pineapple, pears

Rhubarb, radish

Strawberries, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, sweet potatoes

Tomatoes

Watermelon

Zucchini

Summer – December to February

Asparagus, apricots, avocado, apples

Bananas, blackberries, blueberries, beetroot

Cantaloupe, cherries, cucumber, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, celery, corn

Eggplant

Fig

Grapefruit, grapes

Lemon

Mango

Nectarine

Oranges

Passionfruit, peaches, plums, pear, pineapple, peas

Raspberries, rhubarb

Strawberries, squash

Tomatoes

Watermelon, watercress

Zucchini

Autumn – March to May

Avocado, apples

Beetroot, broccoli, bananas

Capsicum, carrots, cauliflower

Eggplant

Grapefruit, grapes

Lettuce, lemon, lime

Mandarin

Onion, oranges

Potatoes, pumpkin, passionfruit

Spinach, Sweet potato

Zucchini

Winter – June to August

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage, celery, carrots

Eggplant

Fennel

Horseradish

Leeks

Mushrooms

Oranges, onions

Parsnip, potatoes, pumpkin

Radish

Shallot, spinach, swede, sweet potato

Turnip

Eating with the seasons download

For readers who live in Sydney or News South Wales, I included a handy fresh produce summary table ready for printing out and keeping in the kitchen – click below to print

Eating with Seasons in Sydney & NSW summary table

It’s really important to note that it’s not always possible to eat locally and seasonally all of the time. However, it is important to make decisions where possible that are better for you, and your health.

Explore more articles and guides in the Nutrition Hub →

Bottom line

At Naturimedica, we recommend that you eat seasonally whenever possible as it allows you to try different fruits and veggies throughout the year, ensuring a well-balanced diet full of nutrient dense produce for overall health and wellbeing.

If you have been searching for a “naturopath near me” look no further. Joanna Sochan is the online nutritionist trusted by clients all over Australia to make natural good health available to everyone, everywhere. Book an online consultation now.

Browse our key nutrition and good foods articles and guides in our Nutrition Hub → and our tried and tested, healthy and yummy recipes in the Recipes Hub →

Best of Health

Joanna Sochan
Wholistic Health and Lifestyle Therapist
Natural and Lifestyle Therapies for Abundant Health and Wellbeing

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Joanna Sochan is a Wholistic Natural Therapist and founder of Naturimedica Wholistic Wellcare. She has over 15 years of clinical experience working with complex health presentations, with a focus on gut health, food sensitivities, women’s hormone health (including perimenopause and menopause), metabolic health, weight regulation, and senior health. She works online with clients Australia-wide, and also develops therapeutic programs, eCourses, and educational resources designed to support long-term, sustainable wellbeing. View full bio.