Happy February! This month, we celebrate Valentine’s Day and National Heart Month. Did you know a diet rich in fruits and veggies helps prevent heart disease? While you’re at the grocery store, make sure to pick up some of these in-season fruits and veggies.
Knowing what fresh produce items are in season when you head to the grocery store can not only save you money but also means that you’ll be enjoying fruits and veggies at their peak!
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive. Planning meals around in-season fresh produce is one of the easiest ways to save on groceries. Click on each of the listed items for tips on how to pick, prepare and store these seasonal fruits and veggies, along with tasty recipe ideas.
What’s in Season for February:
Asparagus
Known for being green, asparagus also comes in while and purple! A very good source of fiber, folate, and Vitamins A, C, E and K, this veggie is a great one to add to meals. Try asparagus roasted in the oven, on the grill or mixed in with pasta salads, stif-fry and more.
Apples
With so many varieties, apples can easily go sweet or savory and enjoyed as a snack, dessert, on a salad – the possibilities are endless! Check out these40 Apple Recipesor this handyguide to apple varietiesso you know which to use for snacking, cooking or baking.
Avocados
Avocado lovers can rejoice – this favorite food is available year-round! Whether you’retopping toast, swapping in for ahealthier dessert(hello,Dark Chocolate Avocado Brownies!) or whipping up a bowl ofguacamole, you can pick up avocados in stores all year.
Bananas
This favorite fruit is in season year-round making it easy to eat as a snack or add tosmoothies,muffins, pancakes and turn into“nice” cream. Fun fact: the average American eats 28 pounds of bananas per year!
Beets
Beets get a bad rep due to their earthy taste, but roasting them brings out their natural sweetness and makes them perfect for adding tosalads, blending intosmoothiesand more.
Bok Choy
Bok choy is a type of Chinese cabbage with a mild flavor that’s delicious both raw and cooked. While bok choy is usually available year-round, it’s at its peak in colder months. Try it in a stir-fry, salad, soup, or this homemadeInstant Pot Chicken Ramen!
Broccoli
This veggie is full of vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Fresh broccoli is available year-round and can be added to almost any meal. Chop and add to a salad or turn into abroccoli slaw, steam orroast for an easy side dish, or toss intopasta salads,stir-fry,cornbread muffinsand more.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts have made a serious comeback the last few years, and they’re a winter staple. My favorite way to prepare them in by simply tossing in olive oil, salt and pepper androasting them in the oven, which brings out their natural sweetness. If you weren’t a fan of “stinky” Brussels sprouts as a kid, try them this way!
Cabbage
Cabbage is full of Vitamins K, C and B6, along with a whole list of other nutrients. Look for firm heads of cabbage with crisp leaves and a nice luster. Turn into a delicious coleslaw or roast and add to this Rainbow Buddha Bowl for a fun dinner.
Carrots
Carrots aren’t just for Bugs Bunny! This kid-favorite veggie can simply be served with a side of ranch for dipping, roasted (bringing out a natural sweetness), steamed, or shredded and added tomuffins,soups,mac n cheese,meatballsand more.
Cauliflower
Talk about a comeback veggie! Cauliflower is taking the culinary world by storm and popping up in everything frompizza crustto fried rice. This versatile veggie can be used to makepesto,added to mashed potatoesfor a lighter dish, turned intosavory wafflesor used to replace rice inclassic casseroles.
Celery
This crunchy veggie is best known by kids as the base ofAnts on a Log, but can also be used in many different ways to add flavor and texture to dishes. Chop and add to apotato salad, use as abase for soups,add crunch to saladsand more.
Citrus
Fresh citrus like grapefruit, oranges, tangerines and mandarins are in season! As an excellent source of Vitamin C, citrus can help keep those pesky colds away or try your hand at one of these 16 Kid-Friendly Citrus Recipes!
Greens
Fresh greens likekale,spinach,lettuce, and many others are the basis for so many tasty recipes like saladsor for pumping up nutrition insmoothies,soups,casseroles,pasta dishesand more.
Kiwi
This little brown fruit was named after New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi. Fuzzy and brown on the outside, bright green or yellow on the inside, this fruit adds color to any dish. Make theseFruity Pita Sandwichesor toss in afruit saladfor family gatherings.
Leeks
Leeks have a mild, onion-like taste and are related to onions, garlic, shallots and chives. Make sure to thoroughly rinse leeks and pay fry with a paper towel before consuming. You can roast them, add them to a salad, use as a garnish for soups, add to casseroles and much more.
Lemons&Limes
Both lemons and limes are in season year-round and are great for adding flavor to dishes. Juice and use for a fresh, homemade salad dressing, use season chicken,fishor veggies, or combine to add zing to theseBaked Avocado Fries!
Mango
Look for fresh mangos that give slightly with squeezed gently, these ones will be ripe and ready to eat! Keep unripe mango stored on the counter until ripe. Blend into thesesmoothie popsicles, added to atangy stir fry, or enjoyed in afresh salad.
Mushrooms
Did you know Mushrooms are the only natural food source of Vitamin D? Mushrooms are so versatile, you can blend and add totacosorburgers, used as a base for thesePizza Stuffed Mushroomsor added to easy weeknight dinners like thisAsian Chicken Stir Fry.
Parsnips
Parsnips are a root veggie, closely related to the carrots. In fact, they look just like pale carrots! We love to roast them to bring out their natural sweetness, but they can also be pureed for a delicious alternative to mashed potatoes.
Pears
Pears come in over 3,000 varieties! When selecting pears at the store, remember to Check the Neck. Apply gentle pressure to the neck of the pear with your thumb. If it yields, it’s ripe! Great forsnacking,desserts,smoothiesand more.
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants. While they may look difficult to seed, it’s actually fairly easy to do (watch here). The arils are perfect for snacking, adding to salads or dressing upavocado toast!
Potatoes
With more than 600 types of potatoes sold in the US, the possibilities are endless. While potatoes sometimes get a bad rep, skin-on potatoes are full of Vitamin C, potassium and Vitamin B6. Whether you’re looking forhealthy ways to top a baked potato,different ways to season roasted potatoesor just healthy potato recipes, we’ve got you covered.
Rutabagas
You may not be too familiar with this root veggie, but don’t let that scare you! Like most root veggies, they’re delicious roasted. Check outthis post to see how easy they are to roast+ grab a few yummy recipe ideas.
Strawberries
Florida strawberry season is in full swing! This favorite fruit has endless possibilities beyond just snacking. Blend intomuffins, make theperfect smoothie, add to a deliciousfruit salsaor top off yourpancakes.
Sweet Onions
Onions are a staple in our kitchen and we use them in multiple meals each week. While I still haven’t mastered cutting onions without crying, we can’t deny they’re essential to adding flavor to everything fromsoupsandchilitomeatballsandbreakfast burritos.
Turnips
Turnips are a member of the cabbage family and are high in Vitamins B & C. They have a slightly bitter taste so pair it up with a sweet vegetable or meat dish like sweet potatoes, onions or glazed pork. Check out a fewtasty recipe ideas here.
Winter Squash
Winter squash, likeacorn squash,butternut squashandspaghetti squash, are all in peak season. We love toroast winter squashesto bring out their natural sweetness. You can also chop and saute for a deliciousone-pot meal, or use spaghetti squash as a deliciouspasta substitute.
