Before, shopping was easier: we only bought what was in season and what was grown nearby. Today, you can buy anything at any time: asparagus in the summer, rhubarb in the fall and strawberries in the winter. But especially in the cold season, you need to be careful about the fruits and vegetables you eat. who winter food are not recommended, we will show you here.

Food in winter: why it is better to avoid it

Especially in autumn and winter, it is important that we eat plenty of foods rich in vitamins and nutrients. This strengthens our immune system and makes us more resistant to viruses and germs. Because low temperatures and rainy weather can really challenge our immune system. All the more important to be well prepared.

However, some foods contain it significantly in winter fewer healthy nutrients, than at other times of the year. The reason: they were harvested out of season. This means they lacked the sunlight they needed to thrive. Many foods are imported from distant countries in winter. This makes them climate pollutants, which have virtually no taste or aroma.

continue reading: Here you can discoverwhat drinks you can make with pumpkin.

You should not eat these foods in winter

Among the foods that you prefer not to buy in winter are those that in the summer season have. They need the sun to form aromas and nutrients. Artificial light and heat in greenhouses can mimic natural conditions, but cannot replace them. on this You will therefore have to wait until next year to do your shopping:

1. Tomatoes

Anyone who loves tomatoes would love to eat them all year round. But in the cold season, tomatoes no longer grow in Germany, but are imported from Spain, France or the Netherlands. There they will be under high power consumption grown in greenhouses.

Popular cherry tomatoes often come from Morocco, where they are grown inexpensively. Before they can be sold in this country, they must have one long transport route come back. The tomato is therefore one of the foods that should not be bought in winter.

Good to know: You don’t have to do without tomatoes entirely: you can buy canned or chopped tomatoes all year round. They contain a lot of nutrients because they are only harvested when ripe. Tip: Pay attention to the country of origin!

2. Cucumbers

The cucumbers also only grow in the greenhouse in winter and are then imported to Germany. In Germany they are only in season from June to October. Unfortunately, imported goods few nutrients. The long transport routes do the rest.

You should completely give up cucumbers wrapped in plastic. It’s bad for the environment and unnecessary because the tray is strong enough to protect the vegetables.

3. Lettuce

Many salads are in season in winter: chicory, lamb’s lettuce, chicory and radicchio, for example. Nevertheless, many people opt for lettuce out of habit. Unfortunately, that’s not a good idea. Like other types of green lettuce, it comes from the heated greenhouse and is harvested unripe. That means: less nutrients and virtually no taste.

continue reading: 3 reasons why you need to eat more than usual in the fall

4. Grapes

Grapes are delicious! Sweet and rich in vitamins, they are a popular snack between meals. But in the winter months fruit variety goes a long waybefore it ends up in our supermarket. Most grapes come from Chile, Peru, South Africa, India or Brazil and take around 3 weeks to reach us.

To ensure that the fruit always reaches us as fresh as possible, it is treated with pesticides and other chemical agents. This harm to the environment and our own health. It is therefore better to avoid grapes in winter.

5. Strawberries

Our grandparents in particular can only marvel at strawberries in winter: “It didn’t exist before”, they often say. And it was better that way. Because strawberries are imported in winter from countries like Spain and Israel. The plantations are there because of bad work conditionsthe use of pesticides and questionable irrigation techniques.

Good to know: If you find strawberries from Germany on the supermarket shelves in winter, know that it took a considerable amount of energy to ripen them and they are probably much prettier than they look. air.

6. Zucchini

Although zucchini is a pumpkin plant, it could therefore be classified as a fall plant, but it is only in season here from June to the end of October.. On the other hand, pumpkins like Hokkaido or Butternut are available until December and from then on as stock products from local cultivation.

Conclusion: There are enough other foods in winter that you can eat

It is better for the climate and for your health to seasonal and regional foods utilize. Contrary to popular belief, winter is rich in delicious fruits and Vegetables: Local apples and pears are stored all year round.

broccoli and cauliflower are now at their best. Also try other types of cabbage kaleChinese cabbage and Brussels sprouts. They have long since abandoned their musty image. root vegetables like Beet and parsnips are super easy to make as delicious and quick baked vegetables.