Eating seasonally can be good for your health, your taste buds and your budget. If a food is in season, it often does not have to travel as far from the farm to your table, which makes it taste and appear fresher and may even retain more nutrients. It is feasible to eat seasonal foods and lose weight at the same time. Both seasonal eating and weight loss require planning, which can be a difficult task.
Step 1
Choose seasonal foods that are low in calories. When you visit the grocery store or farmers market, opt for foods that are lower in calories, including greens, herbs, tomatoes, broccoli, and white fish. The fresh corn may be tempting, but it is lower in nutrients and higher in calories than other fresh veggies.
Step 2
Pick familiar, easy-to-prepare items. Preparation is key to weight-loss success. Prepare healthy, low-calorie snacks and meals ahead of time so you can reach in the fridge and find that pre-washed spinach ready for your next healthy salad. Wash and cut up your fruits and veggies when you get home from the store or market so they are easy to grab and eat.
Step 3
Experiment with different foods. An advantage to eating seasonally is trying foods you've never seen or tried while they are in season. Add variety to your diet to increase nutrient intake, make meals more interesting and excite your taste buds.
Step 4
Be aware of what foods are in season. This varies greatly based on where you live. In general, they are the foods with the lower prices in the grocery stores, are more readily available and can be found at your local farmers market.
Step 5
Cut down on condiments. Even if you purchase low-calorie foods, including vegetables and fish, if you smother and dip them in condiments that are loaded with calories, you will have trouble losing weight. Two tablespoons of butter or full-fat dressing contain approximately 200 calories and 20 grams of fat. Cutting out those calories daily could potentially cause you to lose up to a half a pound a week.
Step 6
Count your calories. Regardless of what foods you choose, if you eat too much you won't lose any weight. Look up the calories of fresh foods that don't have a label and be sure not to exceed your calorie limits, even if the overage is from eating a fresh, in-season avocado, for example.
References
- "Break Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption"; American Dietetic Association Public Relations Team; 2010
- "Food Values of Portions Commonly Used"; Jean A. T. Pennington; 1998
