Simply Seasonal - Top 5 Ways to Eat Seasonally

This is some great info that I found in the latest Cooking Light magazine as part of a Kashi advertisement. I checked out Kashi's website and they have a lot of great articles about healthy eating.

SIMPLY SEASONAL:

Local, seasonal produce has an unmistakably fresh, straight-from-the-farm flavor - and it's excellent for the environment because it leaves such a small carbon footprint. So while early spring can be a tricky time to commit to eating seasonally - there's less in the market than you'll find when it warms up - it's a challenge that's well worth taking. And it's easier than you think.

WHILE IT VARIES FROM REGION TO REGION, HERE'S WHAT'S IN SEASON RIGHT NOW:

Artichokes

Asparagus

Cabbage

Green Peas

Herbs

Lettuce

Mushrooms

Onions

Potatoes

Rhubarb

Spinach

Turnips

Watercress

TOP 5 WAYS TO EAT SEASONALLY:

1. FREQUENT THE FARMER'S MARKET - Find out firsthand which fruits and vegetables are freshest while supporting the local growers who bring their harvest to you community. To locate a marker near you, visit localharvest.org. The site allows you to plug in your zip code for a list of local venues.
2. SIGN UP FOR A CSA - One of the easiest ways to cook and eat locally is to receive a weekly box of produce fresh from a nearby farm. To find a Community Supported Agriculture program in your are, and for more information, visit localharvest.org.
3. CHAT UP YOUR GREEN GROCER - Your supermarket may surprise you. Talk to the produce manager to fin out if anything on the shelves is locally grown. If not, be sure to voice your interest.
4. PLANT A KITCHEN GARDEN - You may not have room for an entire vegetable patch, but it's easy and rewarding to grow herbs, baby lettuces - even radishes and tomatoes. Consider setting up a garden swap - your green peppers for your neighbors baby cukes.
5. SUBSTITUTE SEASONAL INGREDIENTS - You don't have to come up with a new repertoire of recipes to accommodate locally grown fruits and veggies. Just add them to dishes you're already familiar with, whether they be pastas, omelets, or stir-fries.