As the holidays have flown away from us and we have now entered the long game we call winter, what can we eat to stay toasty, and reduce our impact on the planet? We live in a world where we can have access to anything we want at our fingertips. Produce and goods are constantly shipped around the world at an increasingly rapid pace. While we are incredibly lucky to have a bountiful amount of produce available to us and fresh fruit in the dead of winter, there are ways we can reduce our impact by choosing items that are available to us, locally.

Choosing to eat a local diet reduces our food kilometres, the distance saved by choosing food that is raised and grown within your geographical region. Shifting from a thousand-kilometre journey to a one hundred kilometres or less journey is one of the great ways small changes can lead to big impact. Another important way shopping locally is impactful, is the way that it directly supports farmers. Helping small farmers stay in business and feed our communities.

So, how do I figure out what to eat? Great question!

The simplest way to figure out what is in season locally is to do a quick Google search if you are unsure.  But don’t worry, we’ve taken a look for you! For those of you living in a similar climate to Canada & Belgium. Or simply for those experiencing a cold winter right now, the items that are in season currently are hearty vegetables like cabbage, brussels sprouts, fennel, parsnips, various alliums and mushrooms. All of which make excellent editions to broth, a new post will be coming soon on all thing’s broth! For now, keep your scraps in a bag or container in the freezer. All the ugly bits will have a use soon! As for fruit at this point in the season it would be stored apples and pears. All the perfect ingredients to make warming stews, soups, and pies.

Being in touch with what is available is a vital part of eating locally. We encourage you to take a break from the screens or order groceries or take out online. Step into your local grocery store or farmers market, this is an incredible way to see what is available. As well as a way to interact with local growers. Try something new this winter!

Sources we love:

• EUFIC: European Foods in Season
• Foodland Ontario: Foods In Season
• Canadian Food Focus: What’s in Season?

Are you already eating seasonally or locally? What is your favourite dish with local produce right now?