Are potatoes better than strawberries?

Katrin Fischer is a nutritionist at the Upper Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LKOÖ) and a “big fan” of local food. She explains to the OÖNachrichten what regional and seasonal nutrition really brings.

OÖN: What do you actually mean by regional? Is there a “kilometer limit”?
Katrin Fischer: Regional basically means “from Austria”. But there are many more distinctions, as almost every region has its specialties and peculiarities – such as the Reinanken from the Salzkammergut or potatoes from Eferding. In any case, the rule of thumb is: the shorter the delivery routes, the better.

What does this mean for our health?
Much. Seasonal means eating food that has just been harvested in our country – and is therefore ripe. Only when the plants are completely ripe do they contain the full range of nutrients that are so important for our well-being. Vegetables that are harvested earlier – for transport reasons, for example – perform much worse.

To put it bluntly: do strawberries “harm” us in winter?
Fruit and vegetables never hurt – even if they come from far away and are not organic. Even then, it’s still a better choice than a ready-made product.

How much effort does it mean to eat regionally and seasonally?
Luckily, it’s easy to pay attention today. Almost every store already has a regional corner. Personally, I prefer to buy from direct sellers or at a farmers market. There is often a lot more variety there than in the supermarket, where you always have the same varieties. You can also experience the seasons with the direct marketers – there is usually the same offer in the store.

Now what can we enjoy?
It’s pumpkin time right nowthen the colorful beets, carrots, leeks and kale follow. Nature has arranged this very well: in summer, when it is hot, vegetables and fruits usually contain water, but now in autumn warming varieties are on the table

Many are worried to overcook the good ingredients.
This is pointless if you don’t leave the dishes on the stove for hours. On the contrary: autumn and winter vegetables contain fat-soluble vitamins that become even more available to our body when heated.

Recipe for rolled barley salad with beets, apple and horseradish

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