Seasonal Eating: And why kids love it too!

11/27/2015

Summer and fall in Nova Scotia are an eater’s paradise. First the asparagus, then the strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, eggplants, apples, pears…the list goes on. It’s a cornucopia of delicious foods that make every meal as delightful as a warm summer day. As fall fades into winter the seasonal selection will narrow, but there’s much to be said for a hearty stew made with root vegetables or everyone’s favorite, pumpkin pie!

Eating fruits and veggies that are in season promotes natural variety in our diets that is well suited to what our bodies need at different times of the year.  Think crisp, leafy greens in the summer and dense, warming root vegetables in the winter. Seasonal foods are also at their peak nutrition, and because they are harvested when fully ripe, the high concentration of minerals and nutrients enhances the natural flavour. Ever tasted a vine ripened tomato that’s picked from the garden, or fresh peas straight out of the pod? The sweetness is undeniable.

And eating with the seasons isn’t just for adults- it’s an experience that kids can learn to love it too! Children like to explore everything, including the many different foods that they’re exposed to. Touching, tasting, seeing and smelling whatever is in front of them is what helps children decipher their own food preferences over time. In France this is commonly understood as l’education du gout– the education of taste. So whether you’re thinking about first foods to introduce to your little one, or what delicious meals you can make with you family, looking for what’s in season is a great place to start. You can count on those seasonal foods to be delicious and just what the body needs.

Not only can our preferences can be shaped by the foods we’re exposed to, but also the deeper experiences we have with food. These experiences—whether it be helping to choose or prepare food, or even growing some of our own food—help children become more knowledgeable and confident in their food choices and learn to experiment with new foods and flavours. The process of getting to know their food (in all its forms) helps develop healthy habits that can extend into adulthood. This is what eating with the seasons is all about!

Written by Aimee Carson, Owner of Beanstalk Baby Food

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