With April well underway bringing sunshine (and a few showers!), we've hopped right into a Spring mood here at eatsleepdoodle! In our last blog, we explored some of the flora and fauna of this wonderful season so we thought it would also be fun to shine a light on what food is growing at this time of year. Plus, with the 22nd of April marking Earth Day, what better time to explore the importance of eating seasonally and sustainably!

What is seasonal eating?

Seasonal eating is a term used to describe eating fruits, vegetables and other produce that are in season in your geographic area. This way of eating emphasises the benefits of eating foods when they are at the peak of their natural harvest season, such as higher quality and lower carbon footprint. Take strawberries as an example, whilst these delicious red berries are readily available in supermarkets throughout the year, they are usually imported from warmer climates with different growing seasons, like Spain. Whereas, in the UK, the natural harvest season for strawberries is in the summertime.

The benefits of eating seasonally:

Seasonal eating has been shown to have a variety of benefits for our health, planet, and communities! These benefits include, but are not limited to:

Cost:

When a produce is in season, it becomes most abundant, meaning there is usually lots more for grocers, markets and supermarkets to sell. As it has been grown locally the produce also has lower transport costs, too. Both of these things can make fruits and vegetables cheaper when in the height of their season! 

Environment:

Year-round demand for produce requires us to grow fruits and vegetables in other countries with suitable climates, such as Spain, South Africa and Portugal. Whilst this allows us to enjoy some of our favourite foods all year round, sourcing produce from other countries has a higher attached carbon footprint than foods that are grown locally. Both the transportation of foods whether by plane, sea or road, and the energy required for cold storage to prolong shelf-life have a huge environmental impact, leading to higher CO2 emissions. Choosing to eat seasonal produce can therefore help to reduce our carbon footprint and be kinder to our planet!

Health (and taste!):

Ever wonder why summer berries are the sweetest? Since it gets from farm-to-table quicker, the freshness and quality of seasonal produce is better than that of out of season. Produce can also be picked closer to ripeness (rather than being picked too early) as it has less distance to travel, meaning it is often more tasty!

Studies have also shown that fruits and vegetables in season may be more nutritious. As it spends less time in storage, seasonal produce may retain more of its vitamins and minerals when it gets to your table. Lastly, eating produce with the seasons means we naturally have a more varied diet. This has been linked to many health benefits, including a healthier gut!

Community:

Seasonal produce is usually local too! By buying produce that is in season, you are supporting your local community of farmers and makers and putting your money back into your local economy.

What fruit and vegetables are in season in Spring?

Wondering what fruits and vegetables are in season? Our garden, grow, eat placemat to go features fruits and vegetables across all four seasons to help kids (and adults!) learn all about the different harvests throughout the year. Read on to see what we have to look forward to this Spring...

Asparagus

When is asparagus in season? Asparagus season can start as early as February, however, is generally from April - June, peaking in May.

 

Why is asparagus good for you? Asparagus spears are full of fibre and packed with nutrients including Vitamin C, K and folate. They are full of antioxidants and can even help to lower blood pressure.

Asparagus recipes for kids: Asparagus can be enjoyed in so many ways... whether you grill, steam, roast it or blend it into a soup, it is delicious! This recipe for baked asparagus fries makes for a fun activity to do with kids and is super tasty, too!

Fun facts about asparagus:

• Asparagus is known as the 'Usain Bolt' of the plant world as it can grow a remarkable 10cm in just one day!
• It has been around for thousands of years - there's even depictions of asparagus on the inside of ancient Egyptian tombs!
• A white variety of asparagus exists that is grown without sunlight. This means that it lacks the chlorophyll that makes regular asparagus green!

Lettuce

When is lettuce in season? Peak lettuce season runs from May - July, however, as there are lots of different varieties of lettuce, its season can begin as early as March and continue until November!

Why is lettuce good for you? Lettuce can help strengthen your bones as it provides a good source of Vitamin K. It can also contribute significantly to hydration as it is over 95% water!

Lettuce recipes for kids: Lettuce is known for being great in salads and sandwiches, but it is far from boring! Why not try this fun recipe for lettuce boats?

Fun facts about lettuce:

• There are over 100 different varieties of lettuce, including romaine, iceberg, and butterhead
• Lettuce is part of the sunflower family!
• The ancient Egyptians were the first to cultivate lettuce as a food crop

 

Artichoke

When are artichokes in season? Artichokes have two peak seasons in the year and different artichoke varieties also have different peak months. In general, artichokes are best from May - July.

Why are artichokes good for you? Artichokes are packed full of powerful nutrients and have been used medicinally for centuries. They may be able to lower high cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, amongst other benefits!

Artichoke recipes for kids: Artichokes are great whole, on pizzas, and part of sauces, and kids need not be intimidated by them! Check out these fun recipes sure to have kids loving artichokes.

Fun facts about artichokes:

• Artichokes are one of the oldest foods known to humans
• They are deep-rooted in Greek mythology, with Greek goddess Cynara being turned into an artichoke by Zeus!
• Artichokes are also number one for antioxidant levels, with more than any other vegetable!

 

Rhubarb

When is rhubarb in season? Early varieties of rhubarb can be harvested from March onwards whilst most varieties peak from April to midsummer.

Why is rhubarb good for you? Rhubarb is high in fibre and rich in Vitamin K and is high in manganese!

Rhubarb recipes for kids: Rhubarb is known for being exceptionally sour, however it can be delicious for the whole family when cooked! One of the easiest (and tastiest!) things to make with rhubarb is crumble - why not try this recipe, perfect to do with kids too!

Fun facts about rhubarb:

• You can 'hear' rhubarb grow! When growing rhubarb in dark conditions, a method known as 'forcing', it grows more quickly and makes 'squeaks' and 'pops' as the stems mature!
• Rhubarb is a vegetable, not a fruit!
• The word rhubarb is derived from the Latin word “rhababarum” which means “root of the barbarians.”

 

How to grow your own!

With the Spring months comes the perfect time to get outside and start growing some of our own fruits and vegetables at home! Here are some fun activities for kids to get involved in the garden…

Easy seeds for kids to grow in Spring:

• Lettuce: one of our stars of the season, Lettuce is also a perfect vegetable for kids to grow. Seeds for lettuce are cheap and readily available, and there’s lots of varieties of different shapes and colours to choose from! Super easy and fast growing, kids can sow lettuce seeds directly into the ground or a planter from late March until late July and begin to pick leaves in as little as 4 weeks.
• Radish: like lettuce, radishes are also cheap, easy, and quick to grow! Sow seeds into the ground or pots from April onwards and harvest within 3-5 weeks.
• Sunflowers: sunflower seeds are nice and big so are perfect for little ones to handle. Kids can sow sunflower seeds into pots first and watch them sprout, then plant out when established.

Why not try a sunflower race? Kids can start their own sunflower plant and see whose is growing the fastest and tallest!

Top gifts for foodies!

Speaking of eating your fruit and veg…our colour in kids placemats make the perfect addition to mealtimes! Ideal for travelling, eating at restaurants, or entertainment at the dinner table, our range of reusable placemats make the best mealtime activity!

And for those looking to learn more about what fruits and vegetables grow throughout the seasons – our garden, grow, eat design is ideal! Kids can colour-in, discover and learn about the food they eat – how it grows and when it’s ready to harvest.

Don’t forget to check out our whole colour in range of placemats including world map, working wheels, and butterfly here!

We’ve loved exploring the flora, fauna, fruit and veg of Spring. Thanks for joining us as we explore the wonderful natural goodness of Spring, we hope you’ve found inspiration to garden, grow or eat your way through this sunny season!

Don’t forget you can get in touch with us on social media and share your colouring creations by using #eatsleepdoodle – we always love to see what you’re up to! You can also tag us on Instagram (@eatsleepdoodle_), Facebook (@eatsleepdoodlehq) and TikTok (@eatsleepdoodle_).