People ask me all the time what groceries I buy each week and what they should buy at the store. It's hard for me to give anyone a specific list of what to buy. I rarely go into the market with a list of what I'm going to get. I like to see what looks fresh and think about what's in season. The grocery store or farmers market is where I find most of my inspiration when creating recipes. Of course there are staples I love to have in my kitchen at all times. Read on to see my tips on seasonal eating and the staples I have in my kitchen at all times!

What to do before walking into the grocery store  

Think about how your body is feeling that day and in the moment. What are your cravings, what is the weather like, what season is it. Are you cold and it's winter? Is it 90 degrees outside and you just finished exercising? These all play a role in what foods your body is craving and what it will digest better.

Think seasonal 

Seasonal eating is foods that are eaten in the same season they are harvested. This is when you receive the freshest and most nutrient dense produce! It also depends on where you are living, but you can find seasonal eating guides for your area online! I will give you a list of what's in season in California, where I live! Luckily I am spoiled here with some items being in season year around.

Winter

This is the perfect season for stews, soups, and roasted veggies. I love all of the yummy winter squashes being harvested during this time.

Here is a list of what's in season during the winter months:

• Apples, avocados, beets, brussels, cabbage, carrots, collard green, kale, leeks, lemons, limes, onion, oranges, parsnips, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, pear, rutabaga, winter squash 

Spring

This is one of the best months for green veggies! Which are perfect for fresh salads or simple stir frys!

Here is a list of what's in season during the spring months:

• Apples, apricots, asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, garlic, herbs, kale, kiwi, lemons, all lettuces, limes, mushrooms, onions, peas, pineapple, radish, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips   

Summer

Who doesn't love the summer in California, this is when I love being out and about getting inspiration for dishes I can cook for fun summer gatherings!

Here is a list of what's in season during the summer months:

• Apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, beets, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, carrots, celery, cherries, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, herbs, honeydew, lemons, limes, lima beans, mangos, okra, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, tomatillos, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini 

Fall

Once fall rolls in I am always excited to put back on my warm clothes, sit by a fire, and start to eat warm meals again. This is when I start to make soups, stews, and roasted veggies all the time again!

Here is a list of what's in season during the fall months:

• Apples, bananas, beets, bell peppers, broccoli, brussels, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, cranberries, garlic, ginger, grapes, green beans, herbs kale, kiwi, lemons, lettuce, limes, mangos, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, pears, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, turnips, winter squashes 

I think you probably see the trend here. There is a lot of repeating produce in each season, this is because California is blessed with amazing weather and can grow a lot of produce year around. Look up the area you live in and see what is in season each month! I promise this will guide you in the right direction of choosing the freshest and most nutritious produce.

Staples I always have stocked in my kitchen

These are things I will always buy at the market when I run out. I find myself using them multiple times a week in my recipes! Find what you use each week and what you start to love in most dishes. 

• Herbs - this is my number one item to replace when I run out. I have learned to love all different kinds of herbs! A few of my favorites are cilantro, mint, and parsley. You can use them in many ways. Feel free to chop them and place on top of a cooked dish, throw large pieces into a fresh salad, or even blend them into a sauce for extra flavor. They bring such a bright taste and colorful look to my dishes. 

• Garlic + Ginger - I can not imagine cooking without these two ingredients. They both bring a lot of depth to a dish. Asian and indian are my two favorite cuisines and it's pretty hard to make these types of cuisines without garlic or ginger. The most simple way to use garlic is to throw a few pieces in with your roasted veggies before the oven. I also love making sauce with fresh or roasted garlic in them. Same goes for ginger, it creates the perfect bite in a sauce. 

• Radishes - I have just recently come to love radishes in the past year. All different types! My favorite right now is a purple daikon radish. I add them to most of my salads or just a fresh crunch on any dish! Or replace any sort of chip with a thinly sliced radish. 

• Leafy Greens - I love incorporating as many greens into my diet as possible. My favorite right now is arugula. This is the perfect base for any sort of salad you want. Other greens I love are spinach, kale, and dandelion greens. All go great in salad or can even be sauteed with a bit of olive oil, salt, and minced garlic. 

• Potatoes - these are my guilty pleasure. I love all kinds of potatoes. My absolute favorite right now are japanese sweet potatoes, which is bummer because they are not always easy to find.  Potatoes are so simple, all you have to do to make them delicious is turn your oven to 400, dice them into french fries, rub them down with olive oil, sprinkle with salt + pepper and roast for 30 minutes. Also top them with fresh chopped parsley for extra yum! 

• Nuts + Seeds - can't go anywhere without either of these. I love having nuts and seeds with me at all times, for a yummy and nutritious snack or to add to a dish for extra delish! My favorite is adding a roasted + salted cashew to my asian dishes, or even mixing pepita seeds into a salad! 

• Healthy Cooking Oils - can’t make delicious food without a healthy oil! My favorite to cook with is extra virgin olive oil! For Indian I love ghee + coconut oil, for asian I love sesame oil + coconut oil, and for pretty much all other cuisines I use olive oil! For baking I'd recommend coconut oil or high quality butter. Check out my blog post explaining the benefits of using healthy cooking oils!

• Fruit - this is the best way to start your day! A fresh bowl of berries or an apple with almond butter is how I love to start my mornings. Do not wash when you buy them! Only wash fruit right before eating it! It will go bad a lot faster if you rush to wash it right when you get home! 

• Lemons + Limes - I always have these in my house. I love adding fresh lemon zest to any vegetable dish I make, or a drizzle of fresh lemon juice on top of baked salmon is benuo! 

• Avocados - yes, yes, yes always have avocados in my kitchen! I love experimenting with them. They work wonders in desserts like a cocoa avocado mousse, and are the perfect garnish to my salads. I love making guacamole and eating as a midday snack with fresh radish. My new favorite thing has been to add sesame oil + braggs liquid aminos to my guacamole. 

• Matcha - since recently giving up coffee I have found a love for matcha. My favorite way to make them is from my mentor Aimee Grennacre’s recipe! It is delicious, I love starting my morning off with my matcha and a little meditation or yoga session! Always buy ceremonial grade matcha when purchasing. It is the purest form out there! 

• Honey - I gotta have something sweet in my house all the time and I also can't make my matcha without a good quality honey. Honey can be used in so many different ways. I love drizzling it on top of an apple or just sweetening a hot cup of tea. It is a great form of unrefined natural sugars. Try replacing refined sugars with honey and see what you think. My fave brand is from Y.S. Organic bee farms.