Eating Seasonal Vegetables: 4 Reasons Why You Should!

Autumn has arrived, and that means we can once again enjoy the delicious seasonal vegetables this time of year has to offer. But what are the actual benefits of eating seasonal vegetables? In this blog post, we'll share a few reasons why it's a good choice!

Seasonal vegetables contain more nutrients

Fruits and vegetables gradually lose their nutritional value after harvest. Therefore, it's beneficial to eat them as soon as possible after harvest. However, supermarket fruits and vegetables may not be sold until two weeks after harvest, meaning some of their nutrients have already been lost. Seasonal vegetables, which are often fresher, therefore retain more of their nutritional value.

Less use of pesticides and fertilizers

Vegetables grown in their natural season benefit from the right combination of weather, temperature, and soil conditions. This makes them less susceptible to diseases, pests, and stress. This means fewer artificial interventions are needed, reducing the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

More biodiversity

When vegetables are grown out of season, especially on a large scale, it can often lead to monocultures (where a single crop is grown over large areas). This can be detrimental to soil health and the country's biodiversity. Seasonal farming, especially among small-scale farmers, often encourages more diverse crops that are better for the soil and local ecosystems.

Seasonal vegetables are often cheaper

Besides the many health and environmental benefits of eating seasonal vegetables, it also offers advantages for your wallet. This is because factors like supply and demand play a role, but also because transport costs are lower when produce is grown locally. This means they don't have to be shipped long distances, which reduces the cost somewhat. You can also see if you can buy fruits and vegetables directly from the farmer. To see where farmers are located near you, you can use bioadressen.nl.

Our microbiome adapts to UV radiation

The composition of our gut microbiome appears to adapt to UV radiation from the sun. Microbial diversity has been shown to decrease when there is less UV-B light. This suggests that it may be beneficial to consume seasonal foods so that our microbiome isn't unnecessarily burdened with difficult-to-digest foods during periods of less sunlight.

Which fruits and vegetables can you eat in which season (in the Netherlands)?

January: Brussels sprouts, kale, parsnips, leeks, carrots, red cabbage, chicory, potatoes, apples and pears

February: Brussels sprouts, kale, parsnips, leeks, carrots, red cabbage, chicory, potatoes, apples and pears

March: Kale, Brussels sprouts, leek, carrots, chicory, potatoes, apples and pears

April: Asparagus, radish, spinach, cress, lettuce, potatoes, apples and pears

May: Asparagus, spinach, lettuce, radish, strawberries, peas

June: green beans, broad beans, lettuce, endive, spinach, radish, peas, zucchini, strawberries, cherries, raspberries

July: Green beans, courgette, aubergine, cucumber, tomatoes, peas, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, endive, leek, cauliflower, strawberries, cherries, plums, raspberries, blackberries.

August: Green beans, zucchini, eggplant, cucumber, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, endive, strawberries, cherries, plums, raspberries, blackberries

September: Pumpkin, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, leeks, kale, apples, pears, plums, grapes, blackberries

October: Pumpkin, kale, Brussels sprouts, leek, celeriac, parsnip, carrots, potatoes, red cabbage, chicory, apples, pears, grapes, blackberries

November: Brussels sprouts, kale, leek, carrots, red cabbage, celeriac, chicory, parsnips, potatoes, apples and pears

December: Brussels sprouts, kale, carrots, celeriac, parsnips, leeks, red cabbage, chicory, potatoes, apples and pears

Conclusion

Seasonal fruits and vegetables are better for your health, the environment, and they're cheaper. They should be an incredibly important part of your diet because they offer countless benefits. They're also good for crops and the environment. So, eat more seasonally!