Living Well with Bri

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. Many, if not all, of us can relate to this quote. The fear of failure causes us to doubt ourselves, and rather than attempting, we avoid trying. I am guilty of letting my doubts win at times. However, I have learned from the times I let them win and the times I completely ignored them that things always work out in the end. Either you achieve your goal or learn a lesson and begin your next path with experience. So, if you are contemplating embarking on a new journey but find that your doubts are creeping in, take the risk and go after your goal. You never know what could happen if you never try.

Seasonal Eating

Now that the seasons are slowly starting to change, I thought seasonal eating would be a really fun topic to talk about and hopefully give you some pointers for grocery shopping in a new season. Seasonal eating refers to consuming foods in season during a specific time of the year. There are many reasons why this approach to food selection is important for our health and environment:

1. Nutritional Benefits: Seasonal foods are often fresher and more nutritious. When produce is in season, it's typically harvested at its peak ripeness, which means it's richer in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

2. Environmental Sustainability: Eating seasonally can reduce the carbon footprint associated with food production and transportation. When you consume foods that are grown locally and in season, it reduces the need for long-distance transportation and energy-intensive methods of preservation.

3. Supporting Local Agriculture: Choosing seasonal produce supports local farmers and the local economy. It helps to maintain agricultural diversity and can be economically beneficial for farmers.

4. Variety in Diet: Seasonal eating encourages a diverse diet. As different foods come into season throughout the year, it can naturally lead to a broader range of foods in your diet, which can be nutritionally beneficial.

5. Cost Savings: Seasonal foods are often more affordable because they are abundant during their peak growing season. Conversely, out-of-season produce may be more expensive due to the costs associated with growing it in non-native conditions.

Here's an example of seasonal eating by season in many temperate regions:

Spring:

• Fruits: Strawberries, cherries, apricots, rhubarb, and citrus fruits.

• Vegetables: Asparagus, peas, artichokes, spinach, and lettuce.

Summer:

• Fruits: Blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, peaches, and tomatoes.

• Vegetables: Corn, cucumbers, zucchini, bell peppers, and green beans.

Fall:

• Fruits: Apples, pears, grapes, and cranberries.

• Vegetables: Pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts.

Winter:

• Fruits: Citrus fruits (e.g., oranges and grapefruits).

• Vegetables: Root vegetables (e.g., carrots, turnips, and potatoes) and winter greens (e.g., kale and collard greens).

Seasonal eating is a great way to change your recipes and get excited about new flavors while helping the environment!

Fall Recipes

If you ever get stuck on what to cook during the fall, this website has various recipes with produce grown during the fall season!