4 Benefits to Eating Seasonally

We live in a time where seasonality isn’t really a thing. Produce and goods are shipped around the globe and we can find strawberries & summer squash in the grocery in the middle of winter, pears and winter squash in the middle of summer.

While it IS really easy to get what we want, when we want it, have you ever thought about the price tag that comes along with it? Not just our wallet, but to the environment, our local economy, and our health??

I’m the first to admit I’m not perfect at shopping and buying seasonally, BUT little shifts make a big impact.

Our eating and shopping habits are not just important for our health, but for our local economies, the environment, and the future of our food system. We cast a vote each and every time we buy.

How and where we choose to spend our money is really important, and every dollar we spend creates a much greater impact than we realize. Ready to simplify the perks of shopping/eating locally?!

Because locally grown food has a shorter travel from the time its harvested to your plate, it’s better for…

your wallet

When eating in season, there is typically an abundance, so you save the moo-lah. It’s supply & demand yo.

that beautiful body of yours

Foods eaten in season are more flavorful and packed with more nutrients. Have you ever eaten a spring strawberry that literally takes like a skittle? Yesssss.

the environment

Because eating seasonally usually means you’re eating closer to home, produce spends a shorter time in transport. Shorter transport = fewer gas emissions = better for our mother earth.

local economies

Nearly half (45%) of money spent within local markets will remain there. Compare this with a meager 13% of money spent in chain retailers, and it becomes evident that even the most modest change in spending habits can produce considerable economic impact. Eating seasonally can be hard off season, especially in these cold winter months. It takes a little bit of creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to try new things.

Not sure where or how to start? Try shopping your local farmers market. It is an amazing way to shop seasonally by default! Check out localharvest.org to find markets in your area just by typing in your zip code.

If you are looking for seasonal cooking inspiration, The Veg Out Recipe Series takes the guesswork out by featuring seasonal recipes. All you have to do is login and print about the weekly grocery list!

What other ways do you make eating seasonally easy??

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Connect with me (seriously!) any time, HERE.

Meal Planning Service!

"I am feeling overwhelmed and confused about all of the diet and nutrition information out there."

"I am too busy to plan home cooked meals!"

"I am so done dieting, and am ready to learn to eat in a way that I can sustain for the rest of my life."

I hear you loud and clear!

What if you had a simple place to start? 

A guaranteed way to begin to incorporate more fresh veggies into your diet, that didn't suck?

What if, every week, you had FIVE nutrient dense recipes to feed your family, without having to plan them?

Complete with grocery list and pantry staples done for you, without having to figure it all out?  

And weekly video tutorials with priceless kitchen hacks to make your life easier?

What if it was DONE for you, every single week...

All for less than you pay for ONE meal out!

 Would it positively impact your life?

I am currently seeking a limited number of test group participants for a meal plan subscription program.  If you are interested, please check out the details, and complete the application below.  This is an awesome opportunity to receive one month of deliciousness, and see a positive impact on your energy, your waistline, your wallet and your most valuable resource, YOUR TIME, at a discounted rate.

These will accepted on a first, come, first serves basis.  If you are interested, apply now!

New Take On The New Year Resolution

Ya know how we all tend to think that January 1st is a powerful day? A day for new beginnings, for starting over, for finally going after your next-level dreams--the body...the health...the relationships that you want (and deserve!).

No one thinks, "August 10th is a great day to start a new chapter in my life!" But why not?

What would happen if you gave today all the power of January 1st?

I spent my entire adult life yo-yo dieting, Googling "How to Lose 5 Pounds," and obsessing about what I did or did't eat.

I did a lot of "starting on Monday," "starting over again tomorrows" and felt like my every moment was consumed with thoughts of what I did or didn't eat.

Through it all, I've been a size 2, and a size 10, and you know what I have FINALLY figured out?!

When you're not feeling deprived, you don't need to start again and stop again. When you've learned how to tune with how your body FEELS when you eat certain foods, you begin to consistently make choices that make you feel good. Because, um, who wants to feel like 💩--in body and mind-- all the time? (I sure settled for that--for a long time)

It doesn’t matter how old you are, what your experience is, how healthy you are in this moment, or what your current pant size is. TODAY is the day where you draw the line in the sand and CHOOSE to ban dieting forever, and be FREE so you can be present for the important people in your life, honor your body, and feel confident in the skin you're in.

I talked to so many incredible women last week, who drew their line in the sand. I am beyond thrilled to lock arms with them and guide them as they learn to eat in a way that is unique to them, WITHOUT quick fixes, pills, starvation cleanses, negative self talk or bullshit..

I've opened up a few more slots open in my calendar this week, and I invite you to book one. There is no better time than right NOW! <3

❤ 👇🏼

Meal Planning 101: Part 2

STEP #2:  MEAL PLANNING

Now that you are IN TUNE with your kitchen, here comes the fun part--planning what you are going to EAT!  If you love food as much as I do, this part is actually a lot of fun.  I get super psyched when I find new recipes for our family to try.  So, where do you begin?

ONE:  Always begin your weekly shopping list with your staples that need replenished.  This will likely also include things like milk, yogurt, bread, eggs...and whatever else you always have on hand.  (Refer to the list you made yesterday of your kitchen staples, too!)  

Then, use what you have** to inspire next week’s meals.  It’s important to start in the fridge, since this is what is most perishable. Leftover broccoli? A half block of cheddar?  Leftover quinoa?

Then, move to the freezer.   Frozen pizza dough?  A bag of spinach?  

And finally, the pantry.  Cans of black beans?  Tons of pasta?  

You are going to use THESE INGREDIENTS as the baseline for next week’s meal plan.  We are all well equipped to do this with the internet, so no excuses here.  We GTS (Google That Shit) or we use the index of our favorite cookbooks.  

Let’s go back to the example above.  I am looking up the keywords broccoli, cheddar, quinoa, pizza dough, spinach, black beans and/or pasta.  The recipes linked below are recipes that were inspired by doing just this.    Let’s see what what we can come up with….

**Have nothing to start with?  Use your grocer’s sales flier as your starting point!

Search one:  Spinach recipes.  Found braised coconut spinach with chickpeas and lemon (UM YUM) So, I look at the needed ingredients, add sun dried tomatoes to my list.  I think I will serve this over rice, but have that on hand, too!  

Search two:  Quinoa recipes.  There is an amazing recipe for Quinoa and Potatoes in my favorite cookbook, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, by Mark Bittman.  I'm in this one for the win.    

Search three:  Broccoli recipes.  Found Broccoli and Sun-dried Tomato Pasta. Perfect!  This recipe hits most of ingredients on the head, so the ONLY thing I need to add to my shopping list is goat cheese.  

Search four:  Black bean recipes.  I make an awesome 4 bean salad that Ziggy loves.  That’s going on the menu this week.  I’ll add a bell pepper and purple onion to my list.  I have everything else on hand.  

And, you continue on searching, creating your menu, adding to your shopping list, and adding ONLY the ingredients you need to make these dishes.  Doing this will save you *money* *time* and will *minimize waste.* Bonus?  It adds to an ever growing list of new amazing dishes you can go back to!!  

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And sometimes, you just need to let your toddler be a human tornado, eat chocolate granola bars for dinner, and then watch cartoons wearing nothing but a yoga mat. 

Now before you call me crazy, know that we do not go all out on the cooking front every night.  I always look at our calendar and make sure to plan not-so-crazy meals on nights we are going to be home late or have a lot going on.  I find that there is almost one weekend night each week that we are attending a cookout, meeting with friends or family, or are going to be out and about, so there is one less meal to plan for. Breakfast is a go-to dinner option for us during the week.  So are tortilla pizzas with a side veggie or these rice bowls.

I often make a grain salad or big pot of soup on Sundays for lunches and/or dinner options.  We also do nights every so often we call “fend,” where Chris and I “fend” for ourselves and Ziggy eats lmac and cheese or frozen spinach nuggets.  

What we can't do:  create 26 hours in a day.

What we can do: Take time to MAXIMIZE what you already have at home, and taking 30-60 minutes each week to plan and create a shopping list, you will make the best out of the time and money you have when you are in the midst of the madness.  

I promise!

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Need support?  Not sure where to get started?  Our next group program kicks off MONDAY!  Comment below, or send me a quick message HERE for everything you need to get started! 

In good health,

xo sarah