Eating seasonally is when you choose fruits and vegetables that are naturally in abundance at a particular time of year. Consumer demand and the supermarkets desire to provide an endless supply mean many of us have forgotten that fruit and vegetables have seasons.

Remember when you could only get strawberries in summer? Satsumas in time for Christmas? Remember how good they were? Let’s face it strawberries in February are tasteless. That’s because the strawberries you buy out of season are grown overseas leaving a huge carbon footprint, loosing flavour and vitamins on the way.

Here are my 7 reasons to start eating seasonally:

• You’ll get food at its best; seasonal fruit and veg are picked at their ripe peak, not harvested early so they can be transported.
• Avoid paying a premium
• It’s better for the environment. The impact of shipping food from the other side of the world is massive. Eating seasonally and you’ll be supporting British farmers and reducing your carbon footprint.
• It’s healthier. Food loses essential nutrients, especially water soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and B vitamins, while in transport and storage.
• Avoid unnecessary chemicals. Treatments known as ripening agents are often used to speed up the ripening process after harvesting. These are often chemicals sprayed on to the produce. Other treatments may be applied to help keep the food fresh during its long journey.
• It will taste so much better- trust me!
• You’ll eat a variety of different nutrients. It’s easy to get stuck in a routine of eating the same thing over and over, whilst eating seasonally will encourage you to try new things.

There is a growing trend to get back to a simpler way of eating locally when possible and with less packaging – let’s enjoy food the way nature intended.  You could even try growing your own! If you haven’t a garden space, try growing plants in pots or check out if you can get your hands on an allotment locally.

January- February

Apples, Kale, Beetroot, Leeks, Cabbage Mushrooms Carrots, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Squash, Swedes. Jerusalem Artichokes.

March- April

Asparagus, Artichoke, Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Chicory, Cucumber, Leeks, Parsnip, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Watercress, New Potatoes, Rocket, Spinach.

May- June

Artichoke, Asparagus, Aubergine, Beetroot, Blackcurrants, Broccoli, Broad Beans, Cauliflower, Cherries, Chicory, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber Elderflowers, Lettuce, Marrow, New Potatoes, Peas, Peppers, Radishes, Raspberries Rhubarb, Runner Beans Rocket, Spinach, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Watercress.

July- August

Aubergine, Beetroot, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cherries, Chicory, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber, Damsons, Gooseberries, Fennel, French Beans, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Loganberries, Mangetout, Marrow, Mushrooms New Potatoes, Onions, Parsnips, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Plums, Radishes, Raspberries, Redcurrants, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner Beans, Samphire, Sorrel, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Sweetcorn Swish Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress.

September- October

Aubergine, Apples, Beetroot, Blackberries, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chestnuts, Courgettes, Chicory, Chillies, Courgette Cucumber, Elderberries, Damsons, Garlic, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mangetout, Marrow, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner Beans, Spinach, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Sweetcorn, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms, Winter Squash.

November- December

Apples, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chestnuts, Chicory, Cranberries, Elderberries, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Swede, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms, Winter Squash.