World Food Day 2023: Know Importance And Benefits Of Cooking With Seasonal Ingredients

By embracing seasonal ingredients, we embark on a journey that benefits our health, the environment, as well as tantalizes our taste buds with the vibrant flavours that nature offers.

Benefits of consuming seasonal food

Source : Gett

In a world where globalization has nearly made every kind of ingredient available year-round, the art of cooking with seasonal ingredients may appear as a quaint and fading tradition! Nevertheless, it is important to remember the significance and advantages that come with aligning our culinary practices with the natural rhythm of the seasons. This isn't merely a passing trend in the culinary world but rather is a practice that harks back to age-old traditions while also championing sustainability. By embracing seasonal ingredients, we embark on a journey that benefits our health and the environment, as well as tantalizes our taste buds with the freshest and most vibrant flavours that nature offers.

What Are Seasonal Fruits And Vegetables?

According to Dietician Garima Goyal, Seasonal fruits and vegetables are those that have matured or ripened naturally in the sun. This makes such seasonal foods fresher and nutritiously rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients and vitamins and minerals. Eating seasonal food  guarantees that you get proper nutrients that the season offers. The greatest advantage of consuming seasonal foods is that they are cheaper due to minimum cost spend on transportation and storage. Being fresh produce, seasonal foods always possess a fresh and better taste than non seasonal counterparts. 

Mother Nature And Her Healing Power:

In this regard Garima said, "It is rightly said that the mother nature is the greatest healer. Seasonal produce is basically nature’s way of healing us. For example - the extreme hot weather in summers is compensated by the watery fruits produced during this time such as melons and watermelons. Also stone fruits grow well in summers, a storehouse of beta carotene needed for protection from sun damage. Winters welcome the vegetables that are great for making hit soups or stews. In addition to that, a lot of citrus fruits grow in winters, an ideal source of vitamin C which is an immunity boosting vitamin and protects from cough and cold in this cold weather."

Importance and Benefits of Cooking with Seasonal Ingredients:

Sarita Bazaz, Founder of The Food Affairs (TFA), shed light on the significance of embracing seasonal ingredients in today’s evolving culinary landscape. 

A Feast for the Senses 

Engaging in culinary practices that prioritize seasonal ingredients involves aligning with the dynamic cadence of the natural world. This approach offers a continuous exploration of evolving flavours, and diverse textures, all while maintaining a professional culinary standard. Consider the succulent, sun-ripened tomatoes of summer, the hearty pleasures of autumn squash, or the lively citrus fruits of winter. These elements generate a wealth of taste and liveliness when savoured during their peak seasons, crafting a sensory delight! 

Nutritional Excellence 

Produce that harmonizes with the seasons not only delights the plate with its freshness but also packs a more powerful nutritional punch. Fruits and vegetables gathered at their prime ripeness possess elevated nutrient concentrations compared to those utilized prematurely and transported over long distances. Preparing meals with these seasonal findings ensures enticing flavours apart from robust nutrition, delivering vital vitamins and minerals for overall health and well-being. 

Environmental Stewardship 

Wholeheartedly embracing seasonal cooking marks a significant step towards advancing ecological sustainability. Seasonal ingredients sourced from local providers necessitate reduced transportation and refrigeration, leading to a diminished carbon footprint linked to food production. Furthermore, it fosters biodiversity by promoting a diversity of crops that naturally flourish during distinct seasons, safeguarding the equilibrium of ecosystems. 

Supporting Local Communities 

Cooking with seasonal ingredients inherently means lending a helping hand to local farmers and producers. Your patronage of their produce significantly bolsters the local economy and plays a pivotal role in upholding small-scale agriculture. This support remains instrumental in preserving the diversity of agricultural practices and strengthening the resilience of rural communities. By continuing to choose seasonal ingredients, one can actively contribute to the sustainability and vitality of local farming traditions. 

Cost-Effective Dining 

Produce that aligns with the seasons often presents a more budget-friendly choice, as it becomes abundant during its peak periods. Utilising such ingredients can be a wise financial strategy for crafting both delightful and nourishing dishes, empowering individuals to manage their expenses with foresight and discretion. 

Culinary Creativity 

Incorporating ingredients that harmonize with the natural cycles of the year invigorates your culinary creativity. When confronted with a limited selection of resources during specific times, it ignites a drive to experiment with fresh recipes and inventive cooking techniques. This pursuit frequently nurtures a deeper appreciation for food and expands the diversity of dishes within your culinary repertoire. 

Rediscovering Food Traditions 

Partaking in culinary preparations in harmony with the natural rhythms of the year provides an opportunity to rekindle a connection with timeless food traditions passed down through generations. As a result, many traditional culinary practices have evolved to make the most of locally abundant ingredients in tune with the changing seasons. 

Seasonal Ingredients During The Festive Month:

One of the highlights for the Indian population during this time of year is the arrival of festive celebrations. As households prepare to indulge in delicious meals, it is crucial to remember the importance and benefits of cooking with seasonal ingredients, particularly when it comes to nutrition.

In this regard, Dietician Umang Malhotra said, "One cannot help but notice the way fruits like papaya, pomegranates, apples, and other fruits take centre stage during this time. These fruits aren't just pleasurable to taste, they are also filled with essential nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants, they help our immune systems and facilitate digestion. Additionally, they are an exceptional source of natural sugars that provide energy without any detrimental additions."

"When it comes to vegetables, there is a variety of options available during this period," he added and went on to list down a few:

• Carrots that are high in beta-carotene, this is beneficial for the eye.
• Turnips are low in calories and contains fiber, this makes them a great choice for people who want to lose weight. They also provide a good amount of manganese.
• Radishes are associated with their detoxifying effects; they can also facilitate the digestion of food and provides folate.
• Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A, which promotes the health of the skin and vision. Additionally, they are rich in fiber and contain a lot of antioxidants. 
• Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable and contains vitamin K. It helps in fighting inflammation. 

"Including these flavourful vegetables in our diet promotes a balanced diet that contains vitamins A, C, K and fiber and can enhance the eyesight, strengthen the bones, promote healthy skin and hair while also helping to regulate the weight. Another significant benefit of cooking with seasonal ingredients is their effectiveness in cost. Since these items are commonly available during their seasonal peak, their prices are typically lower than other produce that is not in season," he added. 

 

In addition to him, Dietician Garima Goyal also went on to list some seasonal fruits and vegetables in the fall season:

• Beetroot - This vegetable belongs to the roots and tubers family and gives a blood red hue to the recipes it is added to. This makes it a great cancer preventive food as it is rich in antioxidants namely anthocyanins. 
• Mosambi - The season of fall not only welcomes winter breeze, but also invites cough and cold. In order to build the body’s immunity, the nature plays its role by producing vitamin C naturally enriched fruits such as mosambi.
• Pears - The richness of fibre in this fruit available in the fall makes it a great food for  those having heart ailments.
• Brussels sprouts - This vegetable belongs to the cruciferous family and is a rich source of fibre. Also the vegetables belonging to this family contain metabolites known as glucosinolates which have cancer protective properties by preventing the growth of cancer cells. 

Seasonal fruits and vegetables produced on the local farms are often fresher, as they do not require long distances for transport.