GUEST POST BY REBECCA COOMES OF THE HEALTHY GUT
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Eating with the seasons is something that we can tend to forget in this day and age of convenience. If you want strawberries out of season they are there on the shelf, shipped from far away and a harder on your wallet than when they are in season, but available all the same. Learning how to buy fruit and vegetables in season can appear daunting at first but in the longer term your wallet and your wellbeing will benefit.

Synchronising your diet with the seasons is certainly not a new concept, indeed it was a necessity for our ancestors. These days much of our food supply reflects the technological changes that have occurred in farming and food has been engineered for efficiency and convenience, rather than entrusted to nature and the seasons.

The benefits that I see from eating seasonally include, taste, better nutrient content, diversity, price, environment and the sense of community I feel from supporting my local food market and other independent food producers that work with the seasons. Look for a local business who could supply you with an amazing seasonal produce box, we love Organic Angels in Melbourne. If you’d like to know more about switching to organic and why it might be a good idea listen to The Healthy Gut Podcast with Nicole Robins on going organic.

So what SIBO friendly fruit and vegetables are available when? (In accordance with the SIBO Bi-Phasic diet)

Spring

My favourite month, bringing with it the promise of renewal and more fresh produce. Gone are the cold days and the need for warming foods, by this time of the year I’m normally ready for eating lighter meals and I become inspired by the change of available produce. I love a little pile of green beans alongside my meals, simply dressed in a little olive oil with a few toasted flaked almonds they are delicious.

Vegetables

• Asparagus   
• Beetroot/beet
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Fennel bulb
• Green beans
• Kale
• Leek
• Lettuce/salad leaves
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Radish
• Spinach
• Spring onions/scallions
• Tomato
• Zucchini/courgette

Fruit

• Avocado
• Banana
• Berries
• Citrus fruits
• Lemon
• Pineapple
• Melon

Summer

The most bounteous of the seasons, time to eat fresh, eat outside and maybe go and pick your own at a local farm to truly take advantage of the season of plenty. I love nothing more than a simple handful of berries after a meal at this time of year.

Vegetables

• Asparagus
• Beetroot/beet
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Capsicum/pepper
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Fennel bulb
• Green beans
• Kale
• Leek
• Lettuce/salad leaves
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Radish
• Spinach
• Spring onions/scallions
• Tomato
• Zucchini/courgette

Fruit

• Avocado
• Banana
• Berries
• Cherries
• Citrus fruits
• Grapes
• Kiwi fruit
• Lemon
• Lime
• Pineapple
• Melon
• Watermelon (allowed in Phase 2 at discretion of your practitioner)

Autumn

As the seasons change we tend to change our eating habits to warming foods. I find myself using my slow cooker more at this time of year. After all what could better than coming home to a house that smells of your delicious meal all ready to eat?

Vegetables

• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Green beans
• Parsnip
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Snow peas
• Spinach
• Zucchini/courgette

Fruit

• Avocado
• Banana
• Berries
• Grapes
• Kiwi fruit
• Lemon
• Lime
• Citrus fruits
• Pomegranate
• Rhubarb

Winter

The time when we all want to hunker down, keep warm and eat food that will help to stave off coughs and colds. One of my favourite vegetables at this time of year is the gorgeous deep, rich green kale, which we SIBOers can eat in unlimited quantities. Check out my delicious Winter kale salad recipe, one of my favourite ways to eat this powerhouse of a vegetable.

Vegetables

• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Green beans
• Parsnip
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Snow peas
• Spinach
• Zucchini/courgette

Fruit

• Avocado
• Banana
• Berries
• Grapes
• Kiwi fruit
• Lemon
• Lime
• Citrus fruits
• Pomegranate
• Rhubarb

Rebecca Coomes is an author, entrepreneur, passionate foodie and intrepid traveller. She transformed her health after a lifetime of chronic illness, and today guides others on their own path to wellness in her highly effective SIBO Coaching Program. She is the founder of The Healthy Gut, a platform where people can learn about gut health and how it is important for a healthy mind and body. Rebecca is also the author of the world’s first cookbooks for people treating Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and the host of The Healthy Gut podcast.