Summer is here and that means an abundance of colorful produce available to us. One of the best ways to find out which local foods are in season in your community is to visit your local farmers’ markets.

So why do we want to eat in season?
Aside from foods tasting better, there are a number of reasons to shop and eat in-season foods:

1. Buying local seasonal produce usually means that the food that you are eating has travelled less distance to make it from the farm to your table. This means that there is less likelihood of loss of nutrients with long transport times. And, the taste value is much higher the shorter the food is in transit. Also when picked in season, produce is not treated with artificial ripening agents.
2. Seasonal eating promotes variety in our nutrient consumption. So if we just eat what is in season, we are less likely to get stuck in a rut of always eating the same produce at every meal. We also end up trying new produce that we may not have experienced before.
3. It can make us feel more connected with our community and foster a sense of gratitude and mindfulness during meals. It can also help us to save money, as in-season foods are typically priced cheaper.
4. It is a great way to educate your family and children in the value of eating locally. A visit to a farmer’s market with your children can be educational, and you have on-hand experts who can answer any questions you may have about their produce.

This is a preview of our Pinnacle Health Management Wellness Program newsletter FreshAir. Employers can obtain our Wellness Program as an add-on, which includes quarterly wellness challenges, wellness toolkits and other educational resources, newsletters on popular health topics, and customized reports at the end of all wellness challenges. If you’d like more information, contact us at 866.930.7264 or at quotes@pinnaclehealthmanagement.com.