Make winter healthier by eating “in-season” fruits & vegetables

Eating in season is always the best choice. In-season fruits and vegetables have more nutrients because they are fresher. Buying local, seasonal produce also supports farms close to where you live and is “greener” because less shipping is required to get produce to market.  They also cost less which is a welcome relief for our pocket books.

Produce is at its peak nutritional value when fully ripe. If harvested sooner, the fruit or vegetable will not reach it’s full nutritional potential.  Another unfortunate fact is that the nutritional value of a vegetable actually decreases after it is harvested. If it has to travel across the ocean or the country to get to your grocery store it will have fewer nutrients than if it only had to travel a few miles.

Refer to the list of fruits and vegetables below.  These produce items can be found in your local market this time of year and are in their peak season. By clicking on a specific fruit or vegetable below you will find detailed information about each including hot to select, how to store and the nutritional benefits courtesy of the Fruits & Veggies – More Matters web site http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org

What is in-season during the winter?

Apples
Belgian Endive
Brussels Sprouts
Cherimoya
Chestnuts
Collard Greens
Dates
Grapefruit
Kale
Kiwifruit
Leeks
Oranges
Passion Fruit
Pear
Persimmons
Pummelo
Radicchio
Red Currants
Sweet Potatoes
Tangerines
Turnips
Winter Squash

“Fruits & Veggies—More Matters” was launched in 2007 to reflect the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommends 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. The National Program is a public private partnership working collaboratively to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables for improved public health.

Another great resource is the FoodFit’s Winter Fruits and Vegetable list. Their list includes information about each fruit and vegetable along with links to recipes from the FoodFit web site.

http://www.foodfit.com/healthy/healthyWinterFoods.asp

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