Pay attention to the time of year.
Knowing when fruits and vegetables are in season is the first step to making smart purchases. When fruits and vegetables are in season, they are usually fresher, taste better, and cost less. Before you head to the market, find out what’s in season in your area so you can get the best deals.
Make sure it’s fresh.
Look closely at the vegetables before you buy them. Choose things that are sturdy, bright, and not battered or broken in any manner. Don’t eat fruits and veggies that feel squishy, have black spots, or appear like they’re dying. These things show that they are old or have been hurt.
Give the meal a sniff.
You can tell a lot about how fresh something is by how it smells. When melons, peaches, and pineapples are ripe, they smell sweet and fruity. If the fruit or veggies don’t smell strong or at all, they could not be ripe or tasty enough.
Be sure to know what you need to keep.
You should keep fruits and vegetables in different ways. Examples of fruits that remain longer in the fridge are apples and pears. Some foods, including bananas and tomatoes, should be kept at room temperature. When you store items appropriately, they keep fresh longer and you don’t waste as much.
When you can, buy full.
Whole fruits and vegetables usually taste better and preserve their nutrients better than ones that have been cut up or put in a box ahead of time. Check the date on the package of pre-cut fruits and vegetables to make sure they aren’t too damp, because they go bad rapidly.
Think about how organic and regular are not the same.
People who care about their health could prefer to consume organic fruits and vegetables because they don’t use pesticides to kill bugs. But you don’t need all organic foods. You can eat some fruits and veggies every day because they don’t have a lot of chemicals on them. You might want to look at the “Dirty Dozen” list to assist you decide which organic products to buy first.
Assist Farmers in Your Area.
Buying food at farmers’ markets or local co-ops is good for the community and usually means getting food that is fresher. Farmers in the area choose their crops when they are at their best, which makes them taste better and contain more nutrients than crops bought in stores.
Use your hands and eyes.
Gently squeeze avocados and peaches to see if they are ripe. They should be soft enough to give a little, but not too soft. When you buy leafy greens, make sure the leaves are bright and crisp and don’t turn yellow or wilt. Don’t buy fruits and veggies that have bugs or mold on them.
Fruits and vegetables should be the main portion of your meals.
Smart shoppers plan their meals so that they eat fruits and vegetables before they go bad. Make sure to obtain a combination of fruits and vegetables to keep meals healthy and exciting. This saves money and reduces the amount of food that goes to waste.
You can ask.
If you have questions about the produce, talk to the store staff or the vendor. They might be able to help you choose out, store, and cook the best foods. You can feel more confident and buy better if you talk to specialists.
