Here's What's in Season in August with a seasonal produce list you can use as a quick reference guide when you visit your favorite Farmers Market!
It's August and officially late summer! Warm weather is here to stay in Austin, Texas and summer recipes are still the perfect way to use seasonal produce this month. While farmers are starting to transition their crops to the early fall season, you can still find plenty of delicious fruits and fresh vegetables. If you don't have a favorite market, here is a guide to Farmers' Markets in Austin.
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Shopping in-season produce is a delicious way to support local farmers, the environment, and your health. Plus, it gives you a chance to try new and different fresh recipes using seasonal ingredients which vary depending on the time of year.
While some produce is available year-round, many nourishing and tasty fruits and vegetables are at peak season in the summertime.
As a dietitian, I love visiting the farmers market and getting intel from local farmers as to what's been harvested that week. This handy guide is perfect to bring to the market with you.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF SEASONAL EATING
Eating in-season fruits and vegetables where you live often means eating them right after they are harvested or picked. This allows them to ripen naturally on the plant until they are ready to eat which ensures peak flavor and nutrition. Freshly harvested fruits and vegetables are higher in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than those that have been transported or sitting on a grocery store shelf for a long time.
Seasonal food ensures you will get a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables! Each month brings new options that contain different vitamins and minerals and gives you nutritional diversity throughout the year
If you live in a place without access to seasonal produce, getting the nourishment you need comes first. Eating frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are a great way to add nutrition to your daily intake, too!
BENEFITS OF SEASONAL EATING ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY
Purchasing fresh produce at peak season from your local farmers' market is a great way to support local farmers and food producers in your area. It also supports the local economy where you live! The money spent there is invested in other small businesses in the community.
Your best bet for seasonal eating is to shop at local farmers' markets. It will vary depending on the weather and environment where you live.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF EATING SEASONALLY
By eating seasonal fruit and veggies, you can decrease your carbon footprint. This is because the transportation process to get produce around the globe uses all different kind of vehicles from shipping trucks to boats. There is a large amount of gas and carbon emissions in the process of the transportation of food.
So without further ado, here is a list of What's in Season in August - Late Summer produce that it's season in Texas for the month of August
What's in Season in August in Texas
From stone fruit like peaches, plums, and nectarines, to juicy tomatoes and fresh greens, there are plenty of flavors to play with in August! Here is your August Produce Guide:
- Apples
- Arugula
- Asian Pears
- Basil
- Beets (golden, red, chioggia)
- Bok Choy
- Cantaloupes
- Carrots
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Figs
- Grapes
- Green Onions
- Heirloom Tomatoes
- Leafy Greens
- Leeks
- Mangos
- Melons
- Mixed Greens
- Nectarines
- Okra
- Peaches
- Pears
- Persimmons
- Plums
- Potatoes
- Red Onions
- Roma Tomatoes
- Squash (acorn, butternut squash, spaghetti, delicata, yellow, zucchini, pattypan)
- Sweet Peppers
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tomatillos
- Turnips
- Watermelon
- Watermelon Radishes
Seasonal Recipes for August
Seasonal fruits add sweet flavor to recipes in August, and there are so many different ways to use fresh tomatoes to add a burst of flavor! With no shortage of fresh seasonal produce in August, it's the perfect time to try a new great recipe. Here is some recipe inspiration for you to add to your weekly meal plan in August! 😊
Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
When fresh tomatoes are in season, it's the best time for homemade pasta sauce! This Cherry Tomato Sauce is so fresh and delicious! It's unlike other pasta sauces, this is a quick and easy recipe that comes together in one pan. The acidity of the tomatoes does all the work and pairs beautifully with heart-healthy olive oil, fragrant garlic, and fresh basil. 😊
Dietitian Tip - Tomatoes are a good source of a powerful phytochemical called lycopene which research has shown is protective against certain cancers and can help support brain health. And making tomato sauce at home is easier than you might think. Try this recipe as a delicious way to incorporate tomatoes into your diet. It's a great way to use up an abundance of tomatoes and fresh basil when they're in season.
Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats
This Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats Recipe is so delicious with an incredibly creamy texture! It's a great way to get in tons of flavor and nutrition at breakfast. Fresh peaches add sweetness and provide vitamins C and A, antioxidants, and potassium - all important nutrients to help you feel your best.
Dietitian Tip - Did you know that oatmeal contains a dietary fiber called beta-glucan? Beta-glucan may help lower cholesterol levels, can help support your digestive system and gut health, and stabilize blood sugar levels. Just a half cup of oats contains around 15% of your daily fiber intake for the day and 5 grams of protein. These overnight oats are a delicious way to nourish your body with care and stay full and satisfied until your next meal.
Easy Chickpea Cucumber Salad with Feta
This Greek inspired Chickpea Cucumber Salad is a great meal prep recipe for a weekday lunch - so full of flavor, nutritient-rich, and ready in 10 minutes! Protein-packed chickpeas are combined with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, fresh herbs, and creamy feta cheese. All tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette made with some favorite pantry staples.😊
Dietitian Tip - Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are the main ingredient in this healthy snack. They provide dietary fiber for gut health and 12g of plant-based protein per cup! And legumes like chickpeas are also high in vitamins B6 and B12 which have been shown to support brain health. Make it easy to incorporate legumes into your eating pattern by meal prepping recipes that taste amazing like this one!
Green Goddess Chicken Salad
This Green Goddess Chicken Salad recipe is a unique spin on classic chicken salad and a great way to use up leftover herbs like fresh basil that's in season in August! Creamy homemade green goddess dressing is combined with rotisserie chicken for a flavorful and nutritious meal ready in just 10 minutes. It's SO easy to make - perfect meal prep for weekday lunches. I hope you love it as much as I do! 😊
Dietitian Tip - It seems basic, but it's so easy to forget that when it comes to sticking with healthy eating, having easy lunches like chicken salad meal prepped and ready to go is so helpful. Especially on busy days. And healthy recipes that taste great are key to making mealtime truly enjoyable!
Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese
This Beet and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese is a colorful and vibrant combination of flavor with sweet earthy beets, peppery arugula, and creamy goat cheese all topped with a simple homemade Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette. It uses both beet and arugula that are in season in August!
Dietitian Tip - While healthy means something different to everyone, this Beet and Arugula Salad in a nutrient-rich option. Beets contain several important nutrients including dietary fiber for gut health, plant protein, and several vitamins and minerals - copper, manganese, folate, and vitamin C to name a few. Beets also contain a nutrient called betalains which are plant pigments that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. And a recent research study presented in the Journal of Human Hypertension showed that both beetroot juice and cooked beets were effective at improving blood pressure and reducing inflammation in the body. Arugula is a low-calorie food that provides vitamin K, iron, potassium, and dietary fiber. This recipe also contains important nutrients for brain health and heart-healthy fatty acids from the olive oil in the dressing and protein from the goat cheese and walnuts.
In Conclusion
Using seasonal produce is a great way to nourish your body, protect the planet, and support local farmers and businesses in your community. In August in the United States, we are coming at the end of summer. It's prime time to enjoy ripe tomatoes, potato salad, and the natural sweetness of a perfectly ripe peach!
Whether you shop at local farmers' markets, local grocery stores, or online market, look for some of these fruits and vegetables that are in season in August and get in the kitchen to try out a new recipe! 😊
And remember, if you live in a place without access to seasonal produce, getting the nourishment you need comes first. Eating frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are a great way to add nutrition to your daily intake, too
References: Texas Real Food, Texas Farmers Market, Farm to Table TX, University of Maryland Medical System, Seasonal Food Guide, WebMD
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