Summer is such a glorious time of year! As a sun worshiper and fruit junkie, June is heaven on earth to me. I love visiting my local health food store seeing the abundance of ripe, juicy, crisp, cool fruit available – all at a great price to boot! From mango to watermelon to cherries to nectarines and apricots. I can’t seem to get enough.
The other day as I was enjoying yet another mango snack, I started daydreaming of the time spent in Costa Rica studying abroad in college. One of the young local girls that I lived with ate a few mangoes a day sprinkled with lime juice and salt. Talk about a nutritious and delicious snack! Fresh, ripe fruit is literally nature’s candy.
This got me thinking about the importance of eating seasonally.
There are many excellent reasons to enjoy produce at its peak. One of the top reasons being taste and nutritional value, and the close second being cost.
Produce picked and enjoyed at its prime is literally bursting with flavor. It smells sweet and fragrant and is often perfectly delicious when enjoyed in its raw, natural state.
When produce is allowed to ripen on the vine it actually makes it more nutritious too, providing us with all the minerals and nutrients that our bodies need to thrive and feel satiated.
The other awesome reason to eat in tune with the seasons is take advantage of the abundant supply of certain foods. When there is a lot of one type of produce being harvested, it naturally drives the cost down. Take for example strawberries (delicious after the cleanse once you determine you don’t have a strawberry allergy or sensitivity). I’ve noticed at my local health food store that in the dead of winter, a package of organic strawberries costs about $9 bucks! In June, the same size package goes on sale for about $5.
Eating in season is good for our health and our wallets!
There is also a more subtle, perhaps abstract reason to eat in tune with the seasons and that is to eat in a way that nature intends puts us into a framework that says “I trust life and know that all of my needs (nutritionally or otherwise) will be met.”
When we look to nature we notice that there is a natural, I would say divine, order to things. Everything has its place and purpose, and for good reason.
If you’re feeling inspired and wondering what foods are in season right now domestically check out the partial list below. I’ve also included a new green smoothie recipe inspired my days in Costa Rica that I know you’re going to love. It’s called Mango Unchained.
What about you? What are your favorites from summer’s bounty?
With love and mango smooches,
Summer Seasonal Produce
| Apricots Arugula Asparagus Avocado Bananas Basil Beets Bell peppers Blackberries Blueberries Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Carrots Celery Cherries Cucumbers Corn |
Grapes Figs Mangos Melon Nectarines Oranges Papayas Peaches Plums Pineapples Radishes Raspberries Strawberries Spinach Swiss chard Tomatoes Watermelon Zucchini |
Mango Unchained
Yield: 1 quart
Ingredients:
- 2 bananas
- 2 mangos
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 cups water
Directions:
In a high speed blender, combine bananas, mangos, spinach and water until smooth and creamy.
Optional: A tablespoon of soaked chia seeds would work well here too.
