Meatless Mondays: Add More Seasonal Vegetables

You may have bought a container of strawberries in the winter, only to discover they don’t taste nearly as sweet as in summer. Or maybe the mangoes you purchased in the spring weren’t nearly as good as the ones you had in the fall. If you’re struggling to find perfectly ripe fruits and vegetables, it could be because they’re not in season. Use this printable handout for a colorful display of which veggies and fruit are harvested in the various seasons.

Eating seasonal produce is a great way to try new recipes and explore new tastes and flavors. Seasonal produce is produce that’s harvested and sold within the same season.  The flavor is better when fruit and vegetables are consumed at their peak harvest point and in their freshest state. Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips are in season, and so are winter squashes like pumpkin, butternut, and acorn. Meatless Monday bloggers gathered 11 delicious plant-based recipes featuring seasonal winter produce to warm your heart, your kitchen, and your belly. Enjoy!

Want More Information?  View the following pages for guidance on what to look for at your local farmer’s market this season:

• Seasons of Eating Infographic | American Heart Association
• Seasonal Produce Guide- USDA.gov
• Seasonal Food Guide (App available to locate seasonal, local food- sources include the Natural Resources Defense Council, USDA, state agriculture extension offices and state departments of agriculture).
• Seasonal Produce Guide: What Fruit Is in Season Right Now? – Brightly

*You are encouraged to do your own research. Recommendations on external websites are not meant to serve as an endorsement or guarantee of the products, services, or information described or offered. 

Remember to harness the power of checking in to enhance the success of your wellness plan.

Use the Monday Campaigns: Weekly Check-Ins
Mindful awareness, accountability, goal setting and tracking progress are evidence-based techniques that enhance the success of a wellness plan. Each week, the Monday Campaigns participants are invited to use the weekly check- Ins (Weekly Check In– February 27) to help you:

• Remain motivated;
• Reflect on your progress;  
• Consider how you will work with your Push Pal to get the most effective results from your wellness experiences; and
• Recommit to your weekly goals.

Turn intentions into actions.

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, HR-Chief Wellness Officer, DHTett@nvcc.edu