This article is inspired by and adapted from our a lecture from our Traditional Chinese Medicine professor, Dr Clara Cohen, who practices in Port Moody BC and teaches at BINM. Check out her website here http://www.claracohen.com. And if you’re in her area, we highly suggest seeing her for acupuncture treatments – not only is she an effective practitioner, but she is a one-of-a-kind person that you’ll love to meet.

SPRING

• Emphasize light meals with young green plants (baby carrots, spinach, baby lettuces) & sprouts (alfalfa, sunflower, lentil). 
• Use pungent herbs such as fennel, basil, rosemary, caraway & dill.
• Avoid salty foods.
• Raw food is good during this time if you tend to be a warm/hot person, but not if you feel deficient and rather weak.
• Cooking: use methods with shorter cooking time (light steaming, sauté, stirfry).
• Psychology: Time to cleanse, give attention to self awareness.

LATE SUMMER & END OF ALL SEASONS (2 week period)

• Keep meals simple & mostly bland.
• Minimize seasoning & spice.
• Choose cooling foods such as apples (especially granny smith), watermelon, cucumber, celery, yogurt, seaweed, and peppermint.
• This is a great time for fresh salads! All lettuce & leafy greens are not only tasty during this season but also cooling.
• Late season cooking: do not use oil too much in cooking.
• Psychology: follow your natural rhythms & cycles, meditate, reassess.

FALL

• Use sour and fermented foods (sauerkraut, lemons, vinegar, sourdough, yogurt).
• Kale & chard are very nice fall greens during this time.
• Don’t be shy with spices during this time – get creative with curry, cumin, garlic, basil, rosemary & thyme.
• A great time to do canning & preserving.
• Fall Cooking: Cook for longer period of time but at lower heat. Bake & sautée with really flavourful foods (the kitchen should smell delicious!).
• Psychology:  reflecting and planning for the winter ahead.

WINTER

• Choose warming foods such as whole grains (quinoa, oat, spelt), seeds & nuts (walnuts, almonds, sunflower & sesame seeds), adzuki & black beans.
• Warm hearty soups are a great way to warm up during the winter months. Include root veggies such as parsnip, squash, and yam.
• Use only a little salt during this time. 
• Winter cooking: cook by roasting or simmering for a long time.
• Psychology: be more introspective and storage oriented. Rest, meditate, go to bed early, stay active but don’t overdo it.