by Now is the time when many people fortify themselves with vitamins and eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. We will show you what is not recommended in the cold season and why.
Our kitchen and fridge are usually well stocked, even in the fall – but they often contain the wrong foods. By making the right purchases, you are doing something not only for your health, but also for the environment and fair working conditions. Therefore, you should consciously avoid certain foods during the cold season.
1) Strawberries in autumn
Strawberries currently come mainly from abroad. For example, from Spain, where strawberry plantations are planted due to exploitative working conditions massive use of pesticides and more doubtful Irrigation methods they fell out of favor. Or they are even imported from Israel or California.
The following information applies to strawberries from Germany: don’t be fooled! In autumn and winter, they ripen in this country only with significant energy expenditure. In particular, electricity consumption for artificial lighting is enormous.
In our Utopia seasonal calendar You can find out what locally grown fruits and vegetables you can buy.
2) Imported apples
What is more ecological: an apple imported from New Zealand or a local cold-stored apple? This question is a well-known ecological dilemma – fortunately, we can until about mid-December Never mind.
Until then, there are fresh apples from the region that are out of stock cooled using large amounts of energy should be used, for example Cox Orange, Jonagold, Elstar, Berlepsch. Apples from abroad really don’t have to be available right now.
In our photo series “Identify apple varieties“, you will find mainly apple varieties that also grow here.
3) Green salads
When it’s cold, green lettuces come out (e.g. lettuce, batavia, iceberg lettuce). heated greenhouse and they arrive in stores “unripe”. Therefore, they have less flavor and contain fewer healthy nutrients such as vitamins and phytochemicals.
Have it now too enough salads in Germany Season with e.g. lamb’s lettuce, chicory, radicchio, chicory or purslane.
4) Imported nuts
Most nuts in our stores come from far away: Peanuts from the USA and Israel, walnuts from California, almonds from the USA and Spain, cashews from India.
Therefore, especially in the autumn and winter months, we should eat varieties that also grow here (and stored without much energy expenditure become). So: walnuts and hazelnuts from Germany.
5) Conventional citrus fruits
Even if the label says “untreated” – they are used for traditional oranges, tangerines and lemons regular pesticide and preservative residues found.
Manufacturers use tricks to… chemical treatment there is no need to specify: sprays that are usually applied to fruits after harvest are already sprayed on lemons and oranges hanging on the tree.
So: Better buy ecologically and honestly!
6) ACE Conventional Drinks
An extra dose of vitamins for an intact immune system? Better not with conventional ACE drinks. The Fruit content mostly lies only 20 to 60 percent. For this purpose, water, sugar or sweeteners and vitamins are added. These vitamins often come from a laboratory, and their benefits are also highly controversial.
If you want to take your vitamins in liquid form, that’s better Direct juices of organic quality drink – they are healthier and are usually bottled in a given season. You can also try one of our healthy winter smoothie recipes made with seasonal ingredients.
7) Tomatoes in winter? Better not to buy it
We love eating them all year round. But in the cold season, almost all our tomatoes come from the Netherlands, Spain and France, where they are grown in greenhouses with high energy consumption be bred.
Better: Avoid “fresh” tomatoes in winter and use pasta, pizza, etc. strained organic tomatoes in a jar use. They are harvested when ripe, so they not only taste better than those imported in winter, but also contain more nutrients. But when shopping, it is better to take a closer look, because tomatoes in jars and cans often come from China and have long transport routes. If you have your own garden, you can cook the tomatoes yourself for the winter, then transport routes are the shortest.
8) Cucumbers: not a winter food
The same goes for cucumbers and tomatoes. They are popular all year round, but their season is only from June to the end of October. In winter, greenhouses are imported, which means: less healthy nutrients, problematic production conditions and long transport routes.
Another reason against cucumbers in winter: in some supermarkets you can now only find them wrapped in foil. Supermarkets’ justification: This will ensure that the cucumbers are better protected during transport.
Instead, we’ll show you how to do it Avoid supermarket packaging Power.
9) Zucchini
Although zucchini is a pumpkin plant, its season here only lasts from June to the end of October. “Real” pumpkins like Hokkaido or butternut squash However, it is available in stock from domestic crops until December and later.
We’ll show you a few Pumpkins can also be eaten with the skin Power. Plus this delicious, warming one Pumpkin soup recipe you can try it.
10) Conventional tea
Black and green teas come mainly from China, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. On conventional plantations, yes Working conditions are often terrible. Exploitation, discrimination and poverty are commonplace. Massive Use of pesticides harms the environment and workers, pesticide residues end up in our cups.
It is therefore worth buying black and green teas from fair trade and with the EU organic seal. Or: prefer herbal teas based on local herbs.
11) Imported grapes
From November, the grapes usually come from South Africa, India, Chile, Peru or Brazil. Because they do not ripen, they are harvested fresh was brought to us by ship. Depending on where it comes from, it can take up to three weeks – and that’s it for freshness.
Conventional grapes are there too often contaminated with pesticides, because vines are susceptible to fungi, lice, mites and other pests. Not only we suffer, but also the environment. Therefore, you should only buy fruit that is regional, seasonal and of organic quality.
Utopia seasonal calendar
When exactly do strawberries come from Germany? What regional salad can you eat in winter? Our Utopia seasonal calendar gives you an overview of when fruit and vegetables are in season.
With the large Utopia seasonal calendar for the whole year you can get an overview of all twelve months – as free PDF download for everyone who signs up for our newsletter.
Please read our health information.
** marked with ** or highlighted in orange The links to sources of supply are partly affiliate links: By purchasing here, you actively support Utopia.de, as we then receive a small share of the sales revenue. More information.
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