Eat the Seasons: Your Month-By-Month Food Guide

Eating the seasons is a wonderful way to get a more diverse range of plants into your diet, plus, it’s much better for the environment! We’re passionate about all things food at Savery Grazing, so we’ve created a month-by-month guide for seasonal eating.

So, what is ‘seasonal eating’? Seasonal eating, or ‘eating the seasons’ means that you eat foods (whether that be meat, fruits, or vegetables) that you would naturally find harvested at a certain time of the year. You would plan your meals around what is in abundance or even things that you’ve grown yourself. Seasonal produce not only tastes better, but it also reduces your impact on the environment.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of seasonal eating and provide some tips for incorporating seasonal foods into your diet.

 

Hop straight to your favourite month:

 

What is Seasonality in Food?

Because of the different weather conditions throughout the year and our regular changes in climate, certain fruits & vegetables only grow during certain seasons. To eat seasonally means that you gravitate towards produce that are naturally found at certain times of the year. 

For example, you might choose to make wild garlic pesto over traditional basil pesto in March because wild garlic is in season, and basil season isn’t until the summertime. 

We’ve created a delicious wild garlic oil recipe using leaves that we foraged ourselves. It’s perfect as a soup topper, to use in pesto, or to drizzle over a fresh loaf of bread. Find it on our blog!

The next time you’re planning your meals for the week, consider incorporating more seasonal foods into your diet and enjoy all the benefits that come with eating in harmony with nature.

 

What Are the Benefits of Seasonal Eating?

Even if you aren’t growing your own produce at home, knowing what to eat during Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter can come with a number of benefits! We’ve outlined a few below:

 

Flavour & Freshness

Foods that are grown out of season are often picked before they are ripe and shipped long distances, which can compromise their delicious natural flavours! Supermarkets and growers also use pesticides, preservatives, wax coatings, and other unnatural chemicals to help lengthen the shelf life of fresh produce. 

It’s important to keep your fruit & veg fresh when you get home to preserve the delicate flavours of your produce. Find out how to store your prepped vegetables in one of our recent blogs – ‘What Is a Crudités Platter & How Do You Keep One Fresh?’

 

Increased Nutritional Value

When foods are grown in their natural season, they are harvested at their peak ripeness, which means they are more flavorful and nutrient-dense when compared to their out-of-season counterparts. Fruits and vegetables picked at their peak are usually much richer in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – each contributing to a healthy body and mind!

 

Saves Money

Fresh produce grows in abundance providing it’s the right season, so you won’t pay a premium when shopping at farm shops or local markets. Harvested produce that is sold straight away also doesn’t require storage for months on end, nor do they need to travel far to get to you. Because of these reduced costs, you’ll benefit from the savings and pay a lower price for fruit, vegetables, and herbs.

 

Reduced Environmental Impact

When you buy seasonal produce, you’re buying fruit & veg in their natural state. They haven’t been grown in artificial conditions, using unnatural chemicals, and they most likely haven’t traveled thousands of miles to get to you. Each of these factors lead to reduced CO2 emissions, benefiting your environmental footprint.

 

Supporting Farmers & Local Growers

It goes without saying, but the most important reason to buy produce that is in season and grown locally is the benefit that it has to British farmers. Instead of giving your money to nationwide supermarket chains, you are instead supporting your local community. 

Farmers who grow seasonal produce also have the flexibility to charge a fair price for their products, and they’ll often reduce the price on fruit & veg in abundance. Farm shops and local markets are cheaper (and much tastier) than you might think!

 

How To Eat Seasonally in the UK

If you’re interested in incorporating more seasonal foods into your diet, here are some tips to get you started:

• Visit your local farmer’s market or farm shop to find fresh produce.
• Look at seasonal recipes for inspiration (we have a range of seasonal recipe ideas on the Savery Grazing blog if you aren’t sure where to start!)
• Preserve seasonal foods by pickling, canning, freezing, or drying them for later use.
• Look at fruit & vegetable subscriptions, like Oddbox, who champion seasonal eating and only deliver produce that are harvested at certain times of the year.

Below we’ve created an in-depth guide on the fruit, vegetables, and herbs that you should eat, outlined month-by-month.

 

January

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Beetroot Brussel Sprouts Cauliflower Celeriac Kale Leeks Mushrooms Onions Parsnips Potatoes Swedes Turnips	Apples Dates Kumquats Lemons Pears Pomegranate Rhubarb	Bay Chicory Rosemary

 

February

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Beetroot Broccoli (Purple Sprouting) Brussel Sprouts Cauliflower Celeriac Kale Leeks Parsnips Swede Turnips	Apples Kumquats Pears Rhubarb	Bay Chicory Cress Garlic Chive Oregano Parsley Rosemary

 

March

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Broccoli (Purple Sprouting) Cabbage Cauliflower Chicory Kale Leeks Onions Parsnips Potatoes Radishes	Kumquats Rhubarb	Bay Rosemary Wild Nettles Wild Garlic

 

April

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Asparagus Beetroot Broccoli (Purple Sprouting) Brussel Sprouts Cabbage New Potatoes Onions Radishes Spinach Spring Onions	Kumquats Rhubarb	Bay Chives Dill Rosemary Wild Garlic Wild Nettles

 

May

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichokes Asparagus Aubergine Beetroot Broad Beans Broccoli Carrots Lettuce New Potatoes Onions Radish Spring Onions	Kumquats Nectarines Rhubarb Strawberries	Basil Bay Chervil Chives Dill Elderflower Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Wild Garlic Wild Nettles

 

June

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Asparagus Aubergine Beetroot Broad Beans Broccoli Carrots Chard Courgettes Mangetout New Potatoes Onions Pak Choi Peas Runner Beans Spinach Spring Onions Tomatoes Turnips	Apricots Blackcurrants Blueberries Cherries Gooseberries Nectarines Raspberries Redcurrants Strawberries	Basil Bay Chervil Chicory Chillies Chives Coriander Dill Elderflower Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Wild Nettles

 

July

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Aubergine Beetroot Broad Beans Broccoli Carrots Chard Courgettes Mangetout New Potatoes Onions Pak Choi Peas Runner Beans Spinach Spring Onions Tomatoes Turnips	Blueberries Cherries Elderberries Gooseberries Nectarines Strawberries	Basil Bay Chervil Chicory Chillies Chives Coriander Dill Elderflower Garlic Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme Wild Nettles

 

August

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Asparagus Beetroot Broad Beans Carrots Chard Courgettes Cucumber Garlic Mangetout Marrow Mushrooms Mushrooms Onions Pak Choi Peas Peppers Potatoes Radishes Runner Beans Spring Onions Sweetcorn Tomatoes Turnips	Blueberries Cherries Damsons Elderberries Figs Gooseberries Loganberries Nectarines Plums Raspberries Strawberries	Basil Bay Chillies Chives Coriander Dill Fennel Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Wild Nettles

 

September

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Aubergine Beetroot Broccoli Butternut Squash Carrots Celeriac Celery Courgettes Cucumber French Beans Kale Leeks Mangetout Marrow Mushrooms Onions Peppers Potatoes Pumpkin Runner Beans Spring Onions Sweet Potatoes Sweetcorn Tomatoes Turnips	Apples Apricots Blackberries Chestnuts Damsons Elderberries Figs Loganberries Nectarines Pears Plums Raspberries Redcurrants Strawberries	Bay Chicory Chilies Coriander Dill Horseradish Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Rosemary Sage Sorrel Thyme

 

October

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Beetroot Broccoli Butternut Squash Celeriac Celery Garlic Kale Marrow Mushrooms Onions Parsnips Potatoes Pumpkin Runner Beans Squash Swede Sweet Potatoes Sweetcorn Tomatoes Turnips	Apples Blackberries Chestnuts Elderberries Figs Pears Plums Quince	Bay Chillies Chives Horseradish Rosemary Sage Thyme

 

November

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Artichoke Beetroot Butternut Squash Cauliflower Celeriac Celery Kale Leeks Mushrooms Onions Parsnips Potatoes Pumpkin Swede Sweet Potatoes Turnips	Apples Chestnuts Cranberries Pears Quince	Bay Chicory Horseradish Rosemary Sage

 

December

Vegetables	Fruits	Herbs
Beetroot Cabbage Celeriac Celery Kale Leeks Mushrooms Onions Parsnips Potatoes Squash Swede Turnips	Apples Chestnuts Cranberries Kumquats Pears Quince	Bay Chicory Horseradish Rosemary

 

Eating The Seasons With Savery Grazing

At Savery Grazing, we’re passionate about supporting our local farmers and the nature around us, which is why we only use seasonal produce on our grazing platters. If you’re in the Sheffield & Peak district area, why not order a board for yourself?

Alternatively, you can find an abundance of food tips and recipes on our ‘seasonal’ blog page, each carefully curated by our team with the seasons in mind.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our team. You can also send us a message on Instagram or Facebook!

 

Seasonal Eating FAQs

Is Eating Seasonally Healthier?

Yes. Fruits and vegetables picked at their peak times are much more nutrient dense. The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in fresh produce contribute to a healthy immune system, whilst also reducing your risk of diseases, such as cancer, and deficiencies, such as low iron.

Should You Eat Fruit Out Of Season?

Although you can, we would recommend eating fruit if it is in season. When you eat fruit that is out of season, it’s often traveled hundreds, if not thousands of miles to get to you. They’re also likely to be less flavourful as they would have been grown in heated greenhouses – which are also incredibly harmful for the environment!

Is it Cheaper To Eat Seasonally?

Yes, most of the time it is cheaper to eat with the seasons, but of course, this also depends on the fruit & veg that you are buying, as well as your location. In-season produce is often more abundant, and therefore less expensive, than produce that is grown out of season and must be shipped long distances. Additionally, buying locally grown produce can help you save money on transportation costs whilst supporting your local farmers.

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