Have you ever devoured an orange in the bitter cold of winter, or carved up a tomato in the dead heat of summer and thought to yourself, “Man, it just can’t taste any better than this”? That’s the power of seasonal produce at work, my friends. While some fruits and vegetables are in season year-round (apples and carrots are two prime examples), most produce is actually not in season all year long. While they might never skip a day in the aisle of your local grocery store, those strawberries you’re eating in mid-December probably came from a far-away country that stays warm year-round. While there’s nothing technically wrong with buying produce out-of-season, choosing seasonal produce does have its benefits, including being fresher, extra tasty, and lighter on your wallet. However, lots of folks may not know where to start, which is where a guide to seasonal produce comes in handy.
Looking for a little help to get yourself started buying seasonal produce? You might be surprised to learn that lots of delicious fruits and veggies are in season in the winter! To find some examples, look no further than my winter guide to seasonal produce below. I’ll even give you tips on what to make with your new shopping cart additions.
Oranges
We’ll start with a favorite amongst the people before we get to some of the more “out there” items (we’re coming for ya, Brussels sprouts). Not only are oranges easy to find and great to eat plain or in a recipe, they’re also a powerhouse of vitamin C that’ll help keep your immune system strong through the winter months. For an easy and creative way to add oranges to your meal schedule, try slathering this four-ingredient orange marmalade on your slice of morning toast.
Grapefruit
Second on this guide to seasonal produce is another citrus fruit: grapefruit! Some people like them with sugar, some with salt, and some just dig in with a knife or a grapefruit spoon and enjoy them plain. If you’re looking for a warm, sweet treat on a blistery winter day, look no further than this quick broiled honey grapefruit recipe—I know it has my mouth watering.
Pears
Rounding out the fruit portion of this particular guide is the humble pear. Tender and juicy, pears are the perfect addition to a recipe, or just as tasty eaten on their own. These pear crisps are a deliciously crunchy snack to munch on between your college classes (or anytime, let’s be honest here).
Potatoes
And thus, we move into the veggie portion of our winter guide to seasonal produce, starting with everyone’s favorite vegetable, the potato. I’m sure we can all agree that potatoes taste good no matter what day of the week it is, let alone what season of the year it is, but, indeed, wintertime is when potatoes grow best. Looking for a modern take on the classic potato? These oven baked mashed potato cakes have you covered.
Sweet Potatoes
Much like its cousin, the normal potato, the sweet potato is a winter vegetable offering up lots of nutritional benefits; both potato types contain vitamin C, vitamin B-6, potassium, and fiber, as well as other important nutrients. Rather than dumping a load of brown sugar and marshmallows on top of your sweet potatoes this winter, give these mouthwatering Mexican-stuffed sweet potato skins a go (they’d be perfect with shreds of seasoned chicken on top).
Brussels Sprouts
I warned you guys that this was coming, and perhaps you didn’t believe me, but hopefully I’ve gained your trust enough by now that you didn’t close out of this article as soon as you saw that header. Still with me? Good, because Brussels sprouts are a winter vegetable in need of more credit than they get! These fun-sized fellas are nutritional powerhouses packed with vitamins C, A, and K, as well as folate, fiber, and potassium. Still a little unsure of how to work these into your winter weeknight meal rotation? This harvest chicken skillet recipe is a good place to get you started (plus, it features our fellow winter vegetable friend, the sweet potato).
Kale
Now that we’ve conquered Brussels sprouts together (high-fives all around), we’re moving on to one you’re probably more familiar with—kale. Rich in vitamins and minerals, kale is truly the winter’s spinach. Its thick, crunchy stems can scare people off at first, but, once removed and/or massaged, kale can be used in everything from fresh salads to rustic soups and, believe it or not, even kale brownies (if they taste good, they’re probably not healthy, but at least you’re eating your vegetables, right?)
Winter Squash
To finish out this winter guide to seasonal produce, we are ending with the appropriately named winter squash. Not only are squash, just like most fruits and veggies, very nutritious, they also come in tons of different varieties and can be used in just as many ways. Transform your choice of winter squash into this warm winter squash soup, or go for a classic with one of Pinterest’s millions of spaghetti squash recipes (personally, this cheesy chicken and broccoli stuffed squash recipe caught my eye).
If this guide to seasonal produce has inspired you to eat more seasonally this winter, then my job here is complete. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, head over to this more complete guide to seasonal produce to see what’s in season not only in the winter, but in any season! I’ll see you all at the grocery store with our revamped produce lists.