No, it’s not the often-lengthy space between lunch and dinner.

In this part of the world, the UK, due to our northerly temperate position, there is a ‘gap’ when fewer foods are available for harvest. If you want to try to eat seasonally and locally, this can prove a challenge. Of course, a trip into your local supermarket would suggest anything but an abundance of all the kinds of produce available to us all year round but check out the country of origin of much of the fruit and vegetables lining the aisles and there is another story entirely. And as a Nutritional Therapist, I try to eat seasonally where possible, and of course, advise my clients to do the same.

People have suggested that the Christian tradition of Lent could be tied to this ‘gap’, since it makes sense to give things up when there will be a struggle to acquire them anyway!

So why eat seasonally? Apart from the air miles and subsequent carbon footprint, foods that are in season tend to taste better and could even have a higher nutrient content as they haven’t been ‘forced’ to grow in an artificial environment. So, although it’s a bit of a challenge, there are some very delicious and very healthy (bonus!) foods that are in season in the UK right now.  

Asparagus, purple sprouting broccoli, jersey royal potatoes and spring greens are some excellent examples. We can still harvest some apples in April, and rhubarb makes its seasonal appearance right now – so a yummy low-sugar crumble recipe could be dusted off. Personally, I like to sweeten with local honey rather than sugar, use oats and almond flour for the crumble, making it gluten-free as well.

And let’s not forget, wild garlic is growing in abundance, so it’s time to get foraging. I will be heading to a local wood this very week and will be devoting an entire blog post to this versatile herb very soon, so watch out for that!

In the meantime, if you’re an overseas visitor to my blog, I’d love to hear which foods are growing seasonally and any great recipe ideas. Or if you’re more homegrown and have some brilliant ideas for ways to use our seasonal crops, I’d love to hear that too.

I’m also offering 40% off a standard package for some new clients who want to use the rising energy of spring to give their health some attention. This is a time-limited deal, and I have a few slots left. If you want to know more, please message me on jop.naturalnutrition@gmail.com.