Eating for the Seasons: A TCM Guide to Vancouver's Year
How Traditional Chinese Medicine links food and seasons, with simple seasonal eating ideas for Vancouver's rainy, mild climate.
Written byFlourish TCM ClinicTraditional Chinese Medicine & skin care · Yaletown, Vancouver
Reviewed byTabasom (Tabi) Mirshahi, R.Ac., R.TCM.P.
Eating for the Seasons: A TCM Guide to Vancouver's Year
Traditional Chinese Medicine encourages eating in tune with the seasons: lighter, fresher foods in spring and summer, and warmer, more nourishing foods in autumn and winter. In Vancouver's damp, mild climate, TCM puts extra emphasis on warm, cooked food and on avoiding too much cold, raw and greasy food, which it links to "dampness." This is general wellbeing advice, not medical nutrition therapy.
The TCM idea of seasons
TCM links each season to an organ system and an element, from the five elements framework:
| Season | Organ system | Element | TCM focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Liver | Wood | Movement, fresh greens |
| Summer | Heart | Fire | Lightness, cooling foods |
| Late summer | Spleen | Earth | Digestion, grounding foods |
| Autumn | Lung | Metal | Moisture, protection |
| Winter | Kidney | Water | Warmth, rest, nourishment |
Foods are also described by their "nature": warming, neutral or cooling. The idea is to balance your body against the season.
Vancouver's climate and "dampness"
Vancouver is mild and wet for much of the year. TCM links a damp environment, plus cold, raw and greasy food, to "dampness," described as heaviness, sluggish digestion, bloating and puffiness. That's why TCM advice for Vancouver often leans toward warm, cooked meals year-round. See bloating and digestion and swelling and fluid retention.
Spring (March–May)
Fresh greens and sprouts, lightly cooked: asparagus, peas, leafy greens, green onion. Less heavy, rich food after winter. Read A Spring Reset, the TCM Way.
Summer (June–August)
Lighter, cooling foods, as Vancouver warms up: cucumber, watermelon, mung beans, leafy salads (in moderation), mint. Stay hydrated. See Summer Skin: Sun, Heat and Hydration.
Late summer and early autumn (August–September)
Grounding, digestion-friendly foods: squash, sweet potato, millet, cooked grains.
Autumn (September–November)
Moistening foods for the dry indoor air and changing season: pears, apples, white fungus, sesame, honey (not for infants), soups. Read Autumn in TCM: Caring for Your Lungs and Skin.
Winter (December–February)
Warming, nourishing foods: bone broths or hearty vegetable soups, stews, root vegetables, ginger, cinnamon, black beans, walnuts. Earlier nights. Read Winter Wellness: Warming Foods and Rest.
Year-round TCM eating habits
- Eat at regular times, and don't skip breakfast.
- Favour warm, cooked meals; go easy on iced drinks.
- Eat slowly and stop before you're overly full.
- Keep greasy, very sweet and heavily processed food occasional.
A note on health
These are traditional wellbeing ideas, not a treatment plan. If you have a medical condition, food allergies, or are pregnant, follow your doctor's or dietitian's advice. For persistent digestive symptoms, see a doctor.
Where to learn more
A TCM practitioner can tailor food advice to your pattern during an acupuncture consultation (currently waitlist). Warmth and bodywork treatments are bookable at our Yaletown clinic, near Olympic Village and Mount Pleasant.
Frequently asked questions
Are salads bad in TCM?
Not bad, but TCM suggests moderation with cold, raw food, especially in cold, damp weather.
What is a "warming" food?
Foods TCM describes as warming the body, like ginger, cinnamon and lamb.
Can I follow TCM eating as a vegetarian?
Yes. Many warming and nourishing foods are plant-based.
Does TCM eating help bloating?
Many people find warm, regular meals comfortable; persistent bloating should be checked.
Can a practitioner give me a personal food plan?
A TCM practitioner can suggest foods for your pattern.
Sources
- Zhou Y, Xu B. New insights into molecular mechanisms of "Cold or Hot" nature of food: When East meets West. Food Res Int. 2021. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Health Canada — Canada's food guide: Limit highly processed foods (canada.ca)
- HealthLinkBC File — Baby's First Foods (healthlinkbc.ca)
Information on this site is general and isn't a substitute for advice from your physician.
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