These days, it's easy to eat a wide variety of fruits and veggies throughout the year. However, eating seasonal foods allows you to consume more nutrients and put less strain on the environment. This winter, try to reach for more of the following fruits and vegetables, which are not only at their peak level of freshness, but will give your body the nutrition it's craving during the colder months.

Sturdy, Leafy Greens

Though it may seem surprising, some leafy greens actually thrive in the winter. Sturdier, hearty greens such as kale, broccoli rabe, turnip greens, and cabbage are wonderful to stir into a soup or stew, layer in a sliced potato dish for a holiday feast, or to simply enjoy with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

Leafy greens are loaded with tons of vitamins and nutrients, especially vitamin K, vitamin C, fiber, and folate. They're a light and low-calorie option for livening up your meals and keeping your body strong throughout the winter.

Citrus

Oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and Meyer lemons are perfect fruit choices for the winter months. These citrus fruits are most flavorful in the winter months and provide a welcome freshness or tartness to winter dishes that can otherwise taste too rich.

Citrus fruits are full of immunity-boosting vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Enjoy the freshest citrus fruits by choosing fruit that feels heavy for its size and has thinner skin. Also, store citrus fruits in your refrigerator to keep them lasting longer.

Root Vegetables

Sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots, and other root vegetables are easy to find and affordable during the winter. Try buying a variety of your favorite root veggies and cutting them into bite-sized pieces. Spread them out on a sheet tray with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them to perfection. To liven them up, top them off with fresh herbs.

Root veggies are high in fiber and many are high in vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. Since root vegetables grow underground and pull nutrients directly from the soil, try to purchase organic varieties whenever possible.

In the winter months, it's natural to crave warmer foods and feel drawn to eating more protein and fat. These seasonal foods will help keep your body and mind strong in colder temperatures. Use roasting and baking methods to put more heat into your meals, and consider more stews or crock-pot dishes to simplify your eating routine.