With supermarkets dominating the supply chains of most people’s food sources, seasonal eating has mostly been forgotten. This is a tragedy as seasonal harvests are a great health food source. Get your body summer-fit with these seasonal food ideas that include chickpeas and white beans (navy beans).
Why Seasonal?
When you are choosing seasonal vegetables, you are selecting recently grown vegetables that are naturally ripened in the sun in natural conditions. This produces the optimal nutrients within them. Cherries are an excellent example of summer fruit.
You get optimal nutrients and the best flavour. In addition, because no ‘value-adding’ process had to be done to the fruit or vegetable to ripen it mechanically, the produce is cheaper.
Another benefit is that the produce has an overall lower carbon footprint which, as we know, is great for the planet and the future of our children. The lower carbon footprint is due to less transportation, refrigeration, hot houses and irradiation of produce. Out-of-season produce is usually sourced from other countries, taking money out of the country and away from our local farmers.
Another big benefit from seasonal produce is that it gives you a more well-rounded diet instead of eating the same 6 or 10 vegetables you always eat all year round. Seasonal crops also usually carry season-specific nutrients such as the vitamin C in oranges (winter fruit) and the carotenoids in summer fruits which fight against sun damage.
Summer Fruits And Vegetables
SUMMER - December to February
Fruit: Watermelon, kiwi, pomegranates, apricots, figs (summer & autumn), peaches, sweet melon, guavas, apples, pineapples, bananas, nectarines, prunes, blueberries, litchis, raspberries (there are summer and autumn harvests), strawberries, plums, grapes (sultanas), mangoes, pawpaws, cherries (short season), lemons.
Vegetables: Radishes, carrots, mielies, beetroot, artichokes, sweet potato, mange tout, pumpkin, asparagus, cabbage, aubergines, baby marrows, celery, green beans, patty pans, spinach, red onions.
Meal Ideas
Try a pumpkin, baby marrow and ricotta bake as a side dish to salmon and asparagus. On very hot days, use a salad of mange tout, shredded cabbage, beetroot, red onions and chickpeas with homemade dressing or a three-bean salad that includes chickpeas and white beans.
Stew-type meals that include white beans, for example, bean curry, chili con carne (or con tofu) or pork shoulder with braised beans are great to make if you need a couple or more dinners in a row for busy weeks. White beans are also a great ingredient to use in homemade vegetarian burger patties or fishcakes.
Finally, nothing beats a lovely, healthy dessert of summer berries, kiwi and mango with a blob of ice cream or vegan ice cream.
Is your mouth watering yet? Thought so! So buy your seasonal vegetables from your local produce supplier and order your chickpeas and white beans right here online from livloNG today.