As the brisk winter winds give way to warm spring breezes, a new rotation of in-season foods appears, especially fruits. While many celebrate the start of summer with ice cream, barbecues, and hot dogs, the long-awaited return of fruits that have been out of season for nine months deserves just as much excitement.
How does this relate to MK?
Although the MK cafeteria offers a variety of choices, including sandwiches from the deli, daily hot lunch options, pizzas, and salads, there is still room to improve in providing fresh, ripe, and in-season fruits.
Partnering with local farmers’ markets can help provide students with fresh and healthy produce, such as in-season fruits, to balance out some of the entrees served. Providing students with more options of fruits to choose from allows them not only to have a healthier diet but also to be more active, energized, and ultimately perform better in school. Food fuels the body, but the right foods can also fuel the mind, which can indirectly impact grades, sports performance, and much more.
Why should you eat in-season fruits?
The “Seasonal Food Guide ” provides information on how in-season fruits taste much better than out-of-season ones because they are freshly harvested. Since these fruits are freshly harvested, they cost much less as they were not prematurely put out on the market during the winter.
What are some of the fruits in season now?
According to the seasonal produce guide from the USDA, here are a few examples of fruits that are in season during the spring:
- Kiwi
- Strawberries
- Lemons
- Pineapples
- Rhubarb
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Black berries
- Apricots
- Plantains
- Blueberries
How to eat in-season fruits?
Most decide to have fruits in addition to their meals, such as a bowl of blueberries, a banana, or a strawberry smoothie for lunch. However, there are a variety of recipes that fully use the flavor and nutrients of the fruit itself in a unique main dish, special to the season.
For example, there are a variety of recipes on goodFood’s “Seasonal recipe ideas”, which are separated into months based on the fruit that is in season.
Hopefully, there will be more options in the future in terms of fruit choices at MK, but for now, be sure to pack a bag of apples or a pack of carrots with your lunch!
