How To Eat During The Summer Season?

We Bulgarians live in a climatic-geographical region with a temperate climate and for this reason we have a clear specificity in the seasonality of food. In our region, in the Balkans, we have some features of the diet that are typically Bulgarian.
 

Characteristic of our nation is the so-called Balkan diet. It is based on the most valuable and typical Bulgarian traditions in nutrition. Yogurt and dairy products, garlic, honey and bee products occupy a key place in it. All products that have been present in the menu of Bulgarians for centuries are included. Longevity is also associated with this diet.
 

We eat in one way in the winter and in another in the spring and summer. In this aspect, when it is cold, we eat more fatty foods of animal origin, we traditionally have canned vegetables in the form of pickles, sauerkraut, home-made canned vegetables and fruits, compotes, etc.
 

In recent years, after the transition to an open market economy, we have fruits and vegetables all year round, although not regional, but imported. For this reason, the differences in the seasonal diet of the Bulgarian are blurring. It should not be forgotten that even in late autumn and spring season there are local types of fruit that are extremely useful and should be consumed in larger quantities during the season. At the moment these are cherries, strawberries, apricots, peaches.
 

In this aspect, we increase the consumption of light, seasonal fruits and vegetables. We instinctively reduce the consumption of animal protein foods. Appetite determines the needs of the body. We don't eat that much meat in the summer. Especially pork, which is traditional for our diet, is very rarely present in the menu. Emphasis should be placed on white meat - poultry, turkey, chicken, fish.
 

Dairy products, which are also traditional for our population, should not be restricted. These are white brined cheese and yogurt. Eggs are also good to be present at the Bulgarian's table even during the summer season.
 

Also in the summer, we replace our traditional pies and tutmanits with zelnik and pies with green leafy vegetables - spinach, dock.
We also have some typical for our region green leafy vegetables, which are often present in the menu in early summer and late autumn. These are dock and nettle and sorrel, which are not used in other countries. They are typically ours and are an element of the so-called Balkan diet.
 

Our traditional and national food is bread, which is also lighter and dietary during the summer months. Vegetable fat is mainly used in much smaller quantities than in winter.
 

Typically ours this season are some combined, complete dishes based on cheese, eggs and vegetables - mish-masha.
 

Other of our national dishes suitable for the summer season are vine or lapad.
 

If we are based on the pyramid of complete and healthy nutrition, during the hot summer days, energy imports are much scarcer. We do not load as many calories as in winter. This is an instinct during the summer months. We do not need more calories, as in winter. Consumption of high-calorie foods with higher energy in winter is determined by the biological instinct to maintain our own body temperature.