Why eating in season matters and what’s in season in Colorado this fall?
Fall is the time for soups, casseroles, warm dishes, and all things pumpkin (if you’re into that sort of thing). I don’t know about you, but fall dishes are my absolute favorite.
The benefit of warm food goes beyond just warming you up on a chilly day! Warm food can also help stimulate better digestion. Typically warmer foods are eaten slower, allowing your body more time to break down foods and ultimately help the digestion process.
The best way to incorporate fall foods into your diet is by eating in-season and locally grown produce. This is a game-changer when it comes to diet and nutrition. Here’s why:
- Purchasing local, in-season produce supports the local farmers, local economy, and generates jobs in your community
- In-season produce typically has the most flavor and the most nutrients, since it’s grown and harvested in its natural cycle and picked at peak ripeness (unlike non-local produce that gets picked early so that it’s ripe once it arrives across the country)
- You can ask questions! If you’re curious about how your produce was grown, harvested, if there are pesticides, etc., purchasing locally gives you the opportunity to ask your local farmers those questions
Now, this isn’t to say that every piece of produce you eat needs to be locally grown or in-season. But it can be beneficial to build your meals around seasonal produce for flavor, nutrients, and bang for your buck. Plus, knowing where your food came from and supporting local businesses is a win-win in our book!