YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Summer 2018 | Page 8

NICKIE HURSTHOUSE
Nickie is the founder of The Good Wolf Manifesto, which is designed to teach
people about feeding their body and mind through a balanced diet and lifestyle.
To find out more about Nickie and to discover more healthy recipes visit
http://thegoodwolfmanifesto.com
YOUR GUIDE TO
SUMMER PRODUCE
There’s nothing like fresh fruit and vegetables at their seasonal best. But did you know
that eating seasonal fruit and vegetables has a big impact on your health, community
and back pocket? Nutrition expert Nickie Hursthouse explains.
ummer is a marvellous time for
eating because there are so
many wonderful and nutritious
fruits and vegetables on offer. Eating
seasonally is recommended for the
following reasons.
S
Flavour
When grown locally and in season, fruit
and veg are picked at their peak of
ripeness. Produce that is transported a
long distance has to be harvested early
which doesn’t allow the taste or
nutrients to fully develop. Out of season
fruit and veg is grown in greenhouses,
which also affects the taste.
local also means you don’t foot the bill
for the transportation and storage
which tends to be included in the cost
of out of season foods.  
On top of eating seasonally, if possible,
also eat locally. Purchasing locally
grown foods reduces your carbon
footprint, as it hasn’t travelled nearly as
far as out of season produce, meaning
it requires shorter refrigeration as well.
It also helps maintain local farmlands in
your community.
If you were to create a shopping list for
summer produce, it would contain any
or all of the following:
Variety Vegetables
Eating different foods helps our bodies
consume the full spectrum of essential
nutrients needed for health and vitality.
It also adds excitement to our diets,
giving us the opportunity to celebrate
when our favourite fruit and veg come
back into season. •
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Nutritional value
Many vitamins and nutrients found in
produce start to deplete as soon as
they’re harvested. Local food has a
shorter time between harvest and your
table, so there’s less chance the
nutrient value has decreased. Produce
that is available out of season has
generally been stored for long periods
or shipped from other countries to
ensure a steady supply year round.
Beetroot
Broccoli
Capsicum
Carrots
Celery
Chinese greens
Cucumber
Eggplant
Ginger
Kale
Leek
Lettuce/salad
Mushrooms
Pumpkin
Silver beet
Spinach
Zucchini
Price
Seasonal produce is cheaper as there is
an abundance of the product. Buying
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YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SUMMER 2018
Fruit
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Avocado
Banana
Berries
Cantaloupe
Grapes
Honeydew
Mango
Nectarines
Oranges
Passionfruit
Paw paw/papaya
Peaches
Pineapple
Plums
Tomatoes
Watermelon
To help you consume more seasonal
produce this summer, check out the
following delicious recipe for tomato
and caramelised
onion tart.