Seasonal food

Different foods grow better at different times of the year. This is called seasonality.

In this article you can learn:

• what seasonal eating is
• which food items are seasonal at each time of year
• advantages of seasonal food
• how technology has changed the way we eat
• the environmental impact of the food we eat

This resource is suitable for Health and Wellbeing for primary school learners.

In this video, the Great Spoon explains what seasonal eating means and the advantages of eating seasonal food.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter are the four seasons of the year.

• Seasons are created by the changing amount of sunlight as the earth orbits the sun.
• Weather conditions in a country are known as the climate.
• The climate determines which foods can grow and when.

Seasonal foods are fruit and vegetables that are ripe and ready in a particular season. They will no longer grow when the weather changes.

Most foods that come from animals are not seasonal and can be eaten all year round, for example dairy products.

Explore more about the impact of the seasons and weather on our day-to-day lives.

Here is a seasonal food chart showing different examples of food that are in-season in spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Many years ago, if a food was out of season, we would not be able to eat it.

Modern technology means we have access to a wide variety of fresh food all year round. This cultivated food is transported from all over the world.

• Glasshouse technology – a controlled environment made of glass. Farmers can change the temperature to create an optimal growing environment.
• Polytunnels - long tunnel structures built over plants. They are covered in plastic to protect plants from the cold weather.
• Transport. Countries with tropical climates grow food that cannot be grown here. It is then transported to the UK by cargo planes and boats.

This slideshow shows different examples of food technology and transport that has changed how we eat.

Harmful gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are made when power is needed to create artificial heat and light for fruit and vegetables to grow on a large scale. These gases are also created when food is transported all over the world.

• Seasonal is cheaper, tastier, and better for the planet!
• Access to a variety of fruit and vegetables all year round is not always a good thing. Eating foods that are grown locally and in season is better for everyone.

If you do not live on a farm and supermarkets are always stocked with every choice available, it is not easy to know what is in season when. A seasonal eating calendar shows us when fruit and vegetables are growing at their best.

Brussels sprouts are at their peak in September through to February making them seasonal during autumn and winter.

These fibre-packed veggies taste delicious when eaten in season. By buying them locally and in season you can help the planet. They will not have needed heating or long distance transport which can cause carbon emissions that are bad for the environment.

Try this short true-or-false quiz to test your knowledge of seasonal eating.

Make a seasonal food calendar.

Write down the months of the year and draw a healthy food product that is in season to match the month.