Well, as the adverts say, the holidays are coming and as though getting prepared in advance, all of the wondrous fruit and vegetables we associate with the festive period are getting themselves well and truly in season. We all know about Kaletttes -why would we be here but lets look at the others…..
When the freezing temperatures of winter arrive, our bodies need to be prepared for the harsher environment and as such we feel the need to eat more to warm ourselves up and keep out the cold.
Because of the desire to eat more, it’s also a time of year when it’s easier to pile on the weight, especially when eating lots of the wrong foods, so it’s a good idea to pay more attention to our diets and the kind of food we eat.
The types of fruits and vegetables which are in season in the UK during the winter months are the more filling kind, such as root vegetables and those which are high in vitamins and minerals to help boost our immune systems. So it makes sense that we whip up some wondrously delicious recipes which incorporate lots of them.
There are some amazing fruits and vegetables which are in season for Christmas and that’s why, when December 25 rolls around, they will be seen to adorn hundreds of dining tables across the UK. Here are a few of our favourites and their benefits:
Festive fruit
Dates – dried fruit is massive at around this time of year, from Christmas cakes and puddings, to mince pies. Chewy sweet dates are packed full of fibre, vitamins and minerals, as well as immune boosting antioxidants.
Figs – high in natural sugars, vitamins, minerals (such as potassium and calcium), as well as being a good source of fibre, to make a great healthy treat for the Christmas table.
Pomegranate – a good source of fibre as well as vitamins A, C, some B vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium and iron. Also thought to improve bone health, athletic performance (thanks to high levels of antioxidants) have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Clementines – packed full of vitamin C and so popular around Christmas time, the sweeter little sister of the orange comes with less sugar and a whole host of healthy nutrients.
Festive veggies
Parsnips – gorgeous, sweet and crunchy, beautiful when roasted in honey and such a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Brussels Sprouts – a highly nutritious and delicious tradition of the Christmas dinner table, there are some amazing ways to cook brussels sprouts and similar veggies, such as our popular mix of brussels sprouts and kale, otherwise known as Kalettes.
Swede – these contain the antioxidant thought to reduce the growth of cancerous tumours, as well as having a wealth of other health boosting nutrients, such as Vitamin C, E and K and carotenoids. They’re delicious too – check out this roasted swede with parmesan recipe from BBC Good Food.
Jerusalem Artichoke – nutty and sweet flavoured, these vegetables are a great source of potassium and iron. They’re at their best from November right through to March and can be cooked in the same way as potatoes and parsnips for something a little different on your Christmas dinner table.