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Watch what you eat

Get the best flavour and optimum nutritional value by eating the right food in the right season

NOT THE RIGHT KIND Tempting, but junk food is best avoided. Try some seasonal food instead to stay healthy

Dress according to season, sleep and wake up according to season, eat and drink according to season too. Nature has a wonderful balance. It simply produces what is best suited for the season. And we, often high on frozen food, tend to ignore the gentle warning.

Always remember the benefits of eating the right food in the right season. For best value, look out for seasonal food locally grown. Food that is grown in hot climate is also likely to be most needed by those living in such a climate.

Modern food processing and worldwide distribution of food make it available all through the year, and grocery shelves look much the same in December as they do in July.

In a research study conducted in 1997, significant differences were found in the nutrient content of pasteurised milk in summer compared to winter. Iodine was higher in winter, beta-carotene higher in summer. The researchers discovered that these differences in milk composition were primarily due to differences in the diet of the cows.

Nutritional difference

With more salt-preserved foods in winter and more fresh plants in summer, cows ended up producing nutritionally different milks during the two seasons.

Similarly, researchers in Japan found three-fold differences in the vitamin C content of spinach harvested in summer compared to the greens harvested in winter. .

In spring, focus on tender, leafy vegetables. The greening that occurs in springtime should be represented by greens on your plate, including spinach, cabbage, fresh parsley and basil.

In summer, stick to light, cooling foods, which include watermelon, sweet melon, strawberry, plums and vegetables like bottle gourd, zucchini, okra, and corn along with seasonings like fresh mint and cilantro.

In winter, turn more exclusively towards warming foods. Foods that take longer to grow are generally warmer than foods that grow quickly.

All of the animal foods fall into the warm category including fish, chicken and lamb. So do most of the root vegetables, including carrot, potato, onion and garlic. Do not forget to include nuts. Eggs too fall in this category.

Be creative

In all seasons, be creative! Let the natural backdrop of spring, summer, fall and winter be your guide. Purchasing locally grown and seasonal foods can benefit the economy, environment and personal nutrition in many ways. Convenience foods are less nutritious than food you can prepare fresh at home.

RAKESH KUMAR

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