Eat healthier, eat seasonal with Heritage Fine Foods

Everyone knows fruit and veggies are good for you. Eating plenty is important at any age as a good source of nutrients and fibre which are essential for good health.  As we age we become more susceptible to health conditions and weaker immune systems, as well as weight issues.  Studies have shown that a diet which includes lots of fruit and veg can help in lowering risks of heart disease, digestive issues, blood pressure, some cancers and of course helping to maintain a healthy weight.

Eating seasonally means eating foods that are naturally ready to harvest at the same time of year that you are eating them.

Consumers have got used to having whatever food they want at any time of the year. Strawberries in winter? No problem. Blackberries in spring? Easy. The problem is that getting out-of-season produce to the UK means usually flying it in and it is also often wrapped in a lot of plastic packaging to avoid it being damaged in transit.   Eating locally produced seasonal food is not only more tasty and healthy (the nutrients and flavours have fully developed so they are sweet, crunchy and the best they can be) but it is better for our environment too.  Studies have shown that vegetables such as broccoli and spinach contain different levels of Vitamin C depending on the season they are grown in.  When grown in their natural season vegetables produce more of the vitamins and nutrients we eat them for. We’re not saying to ONLY eat the seasonal foods – like everything, it’s about moderation and making those daily conscious choices that make a larger impact.

The benefits of eating local seasonal produce

Supports local farmers and growers	Our local growers and farmers are busy all year round. Just because you don’t see their products on the shelves doesn’t mean they aren’t working.  When you shop for seasonal goods you are also buying locally and supporting your community.
Tastes better	Food grown and picked in season will taste far riper, fresher and sweeter. As it’s not being imported it won’t have had to endure the transportation time or being picked ahead of its ripeness
Costs less	When there is a large harvest of in-season produce, the cost of the produce will go down.
More nutrients	Many nutrients in your produce will decline over time. By eating seasonal foods you are more likely to get the full nutritional benefits. Seasonal food will often appear much brighter and plump than non-seasonal.
Supports our body’s nutritional needs according to season.	In the winter we are provided with hardy winter vegetables for warm wholesome foods such as soups and stews. In the summer, stone fruits provide us with extra beta-carotenes and other carotenoids that help to protect us against sun damage. Isn’t nature nice.

“You’ll find that when you eat more seasonal foods everything automatically tastes fresher and more vibrant! Why not start by incorporating a seasonal food item into your dinner tonight?”

 

Get your 5aday – but how much is a portion?

One portion is 80g or any of the following:

• one apple, pear or a similar sized fruit
• two satsumas, plums or similar sized fruit
• a slice of large fruit such as melon or pineapple
• a handful of grapes
• two handfuls of blueberries or raspberries
• one heaped tablespoon of dried fruit, such as sultanas, currants or cranberries, or three heaped tablespoons of fresh fruit salad.
• three heaped tablespoons of vegetables
• one cereal bowl of lettuce, watercress or spinach
• three heaped tablespoon of any ‘pulse’ – beans, peas or lentils (however much you eat, pulses only count as one of your five a-day)

Sign up for a regular fruit and veg box

Why not sign up to a regular fruit and veg box with Heritage 5adaybox. This can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly and you can swap and shop up to 3 items in your box you aren’t keen on and add extras (dairy, baking, fish etc). We source as much produce as we can locally or from the UK when it is in season meaning you get fresher produce and are supporting UK farmers.

It’s easy to set up and you get free delivery to your door and a free gift with every box and free recipe suggestions each week over on our blog.

 

😊 Minimal packaging                                                                        😊 Free delivery
😊 Free product every week                                                              😊 Supporting local farmers
😊 Less air miles so more sustainable                                              😊 Swap and shop 3 items from box choice
😊 Grapevine leaflet with recipe suggestions                                   😊 Other groceries available too
😊 Weekly blog post with recipe suggestions to use your box         😊 Special supplier offers and competitions
😊 Fantastic customer services support                                           😊 Sign up to a regular box or buy as you like

Visit the website at www.5adaybox.co.uk or give us a call on 01380 860968.