The farmers’ markets here in Eastern Idaho are beginning to offer up more abundant choices of local, fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. I have long been an advocate of a seasonal diet, consuming the “fruits of the season” and varying my consumption over the course of the year. Simply, gut health is optimized when we don’t just keep eating the same thing over and over, all through the year. I advise my patients to eat a healthy, seasonal diet loaded with as many local, organic vegetables as they can find.
As the old proverb says, variety is the spice of life!
Learn to buy and use foods when they are at the peak of their season. The items will be fresh and at their best and almost always less expensive.
Although the following list might need adjusting to your locale, it can be used as a general guide to food and when it most likely will be in season. Certainly track down your local farmers’ markets!
January: beef (steaks), brussels sprouts, chicken, eggs, grapefruit, lamb, oranges, oysters, parsnips, pork, scallops (deep sea), tangelos, tangerines, turnips/rutabagas
February: Belgian endive, broccoli, brussels sprouts, chicken, fish (ocean), grapefruit, oranges, oysters, rhubarb, scallops
March: artichokes, asparagus, beef (steaks), Belgian endive, broccoli, chicken, eggs, fish (ocean), grapefruit, honeydews, oranges, pineapples, rhubarb, scallops (deep sea), shad
April: artichokes, asparagus, Belgian endive, chicken, eggs, fish (ocean), grapefruit, lamb, peas (green), pineapples, pork, rhubarb, shad, strawberries, watermelon
May: artichokes, asparagus, beef (roasts), chicken, eggs, fish (ocean), grapefruit, lamb, pineapples, pork, rhubarb, shad, strawberries, watermelon
June: apricots, asparagus, beans (snap), beef (roasts), beets, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, com (sweet), cucumbers, eggs, fish (ocean), honeydews, lemons, limes, okra, peaches, peas (green), plums/prunes, radishes, rhubarb, salmon, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelons
July: apricots, beans (snap), beets, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, chicken, com (sweet), cucumbers, eggs, fish (ocean), grapes, lemons, limes, okra, peaches, plums/prunes, salmon, tomatoes, watermelons
August: beets, blueberries, cantaloupes, chicken, com (sweet), eggplant, fish (ocean), grapes, honeydews, limes, okra, peaches, pears, plums/prunes, salmon, tomatoes, watermelons
September: beef (roasts), beets, broccoli, chicken, clams, eggplant, fish (ocean), grapes, honeydews, okra, peaches, pears, plums/ prunes, scallops (bay)
October: apples, beef (steaks), broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, chestnuts, chicken, cranberries, fish (ocean), grapes, oysters, parsnips, pears, pork, pumpkins, scallops (bay), sweet potatoes, turnips/rutabagas
November: apples, beef (steaks), brussels sprouts, cauliflower, chestnuts, chicken, cranberries, fish (ocean), lamb, oysters, pork, scallops (deep sea), sweet potatoes, tangelos, tangerines, turkey, turnips/rutabagas
December: apples, brussels sprouts, chicken, cranberries, lamb, oysters, pork, scallops (deep sea), sweet potatoes, tangelos, tangerines, turkey
(Credit to Joan Bingham and Dolores Riccio)
Enjoy your delicious journey to better health!