
Fall offers a variety of delicious flavors like sweet caramel apple, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon pear to savory roasted chicken, pork chops, winter squash, and root vegetables. The change of seasons is a gentle reminder to add variety to our meals and incorporate seasonal produce. Here are my suggestions for healthfully enjoying fall foods.
Squash
Acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti squash, and pumpkin all make their appearance in the fall. Pick one up next time you are at the grocery or your local farmer's market. They can amp up the visual appeal of your meal by using the squash as a bowl stuffed with sauteed veggies. This works great with acorn squash and small pumpkins. Add pureed squash to soup, and roast it as a side dish or salad topper.
Here are a few of my favorite squash recipes:
Root vegetables
Carrots, sweet potatoes, and parsnips can be tossed with olive oil and roasted on a sheet pan. It brings out their natural flavors by caramelization. Adding fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme or sage adds to the flavor and provides a delicious aroma!
This is how I roast vegetables:
Fall fruits
Apples, grapes, pears, and pomegranates make healthy sweet treats. They are delicious in their natural fresh form, make excellent salad toppers, and can be used as a side dish, or as a dessert.
Fresh grapes, slices of apples, and pears go well with nut butter, caramel, or thinly sliced cheese. Keep sliced apples and pears from oxidizing (turning brown) by soaking them in lemon water for 5 minutes after slicing. Make lemon water by mixing 1 Tbsp of lemon juice in 1 cup of water.
For a warm treat simmer apples or pears on the stove. Not only does it taste amazing, but you will love the aroma too!
Happy Fall!
Dietitian Lindsey
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