5 Best Seasonal Vegetables

It’s time to get a little more seasonal and adventurous with your veggies! Not only are seasonal veggies at the peak of ripeness for ultimate taste, they’re low calorie and offer a hundreds of health benefits, too! Try some of these interesting seasonal vegetables that are easy to cook with, healthy, and maybe something you haven’t tried before.

5 Best Seasonal Vegetables:

Chayote squash– Chayote is similar to more commonly known squashes, gourds, cucumbers, and melons in the United States. This veggie comes in different colors, shapes and textures. Chayote squash can be eaten raw and cooked. It can be shredded and added to salads to make some of the best seasonal foods, and they are wonderful additions to soups, stews, and casseroles. Plus, Chayote squash is high in fiber, antioxidants, and contains no cholesterol. For ideas on how to incorporate this new food into your next meal, try our delicious Root Vegetable Salad with Sweet Potato Crunchies!

Kohlrabi- Kohlrabi, or German turnip, provides an excellent source of Vitamin C and potassium. When raw, it can be added to salads and veggie platters. A great way to enjoy this veggie is to hollow it out and stuff it with a meat or vegetable filling of your choice, just like a stuffed pepper.

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Shallots– Shallots have the highest concentrations of antioxidants in the onion family. Plus, they have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties and are associated with reducing risk for several cancers, (especially in the liver and colon, as well as heart disease and diabetes). They taste great in in some of the best seasonal recipes, like sauces, onion dishes, and stir-fries. Try Skinny Ms.’s Tai Chicken Lettuce Cups, not only does this recipe use several shallots, it’s perfect for the warm weather months.

Edamame- Edamame, or soybeans, have been a popular snack for centuries in several Eastern cultures. They have a sweet, mild and subtle “beany” flavor and offer an excellent source of quality protein, fiber, and iron, as well as phytoestrogens. It has even been linked to benefiting immune functions, cardiac health and the effects of menopause. Edamame has also made our list of 11 Tasty Salad Toppings for Weight Loss.

Tomatillos– Tomatillos are very similar to tomatoes because of their sweet taste and versatility; yet they offer an interesting and different choice for your meals. Tomatillos are low in calories and contain many benefits such as dietary fiber, minerals, anti-oxidants, and vitamins. Try our inventive and fun Jazzy Pork Tenderloin which uses 5 tomatillos!

Here’s a helpful seasonality chart: