Spring is well and truly underway, which means salad season is upon us! Time say farewell to those warm, carb-heavy lunches, and hello to crunchy and colorful bowls of fresh vegetables.
Don’t get us wrong – we love salad any time of year. But spring is a particularly great time of year to flex those salad muscles because we suddenly have a whole lot of great produce now in season.
Eating seasonally (and locally-grown where possible) offers many benefits for your health and the environment. We know it might not be realistic to get to the farmer’s market every week, but even knowing which fruit and vegetables in your local supermarket are currently in season makes choosing delicious and nutrient-rich ingredients that much easier.
Why seasonal produce is best
Taste: Produce that has been allowed to naturally ripen in the sun and is freshly picked will have the best flavour – fragrant, juicy and colorful.
Nutrition: Research has shown that the levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are higher in produce that has been allowed to ripen in the sun and has been picked when ripe and fully developed. This is because plants get their nourishment from the sun and soil.
Health: Seasonal foods compliment the changing needs of our body in different conditions. When you eat in season, your body with thank you for it! Winter produce – like root vegetables – tend to be warming and dense, whereas in summer the produce in season tends to be more hydrating – think cucumbers, and watermelons. In spring, an abundance of leafy greens come into season, perfect for helping our bodies alkalize and detox after winter’s heavier fare.
Environment: Foods grown in season and picked when ripe require much less assistance to grow – which means fewer pesticides and chemicals. Eating in season also means you’re more likely to be eating from your local growers – which means fewer food miles, and a lower carbon footprint.
What to eat right now: Asparagus, broccoli, carrots, jersey royal new potatoes, lettuce and salad leaves, new potatoes, peas, radishes, rocket, samphire, spinach, spring onions, watercress, wild nettles
Try this: Looking for the perfect spring salad for your lunch or dinner table? Look no further than our spring salad.
