image by Alexiares
Fall is here! I live in New England, where fall is definitely the most glorious season. I love the crisp air, an excuse to wear boots, foliage and of course, the fall produce. Here are my top 10 favorite fall veggies, and some nutritional tidbits and ideas for including them in your diet:
1. Pumpkin—Packed with beta carotene, I love to put pureed pumpkin in my morning oatmeal or smoothies. Yum.
2. Dark leafy greens—Chard, arugula and kale are my favorite. Full of iron, I throw them into soups, sauté them or enjoy ‘em raw.
3. Apples—Full of fiber and the perfect on-the-go snack, I love apples in my salads and sandwiches.
4. Butternut Squash—Packed with vitamin A, butternut squash soup keeps me cozy through fall and into winter.
5. Beets—Raw beets have tons of folate. Before it gets too chilly for juice, I like to throw the raw roots in my juicer.
6. Sweet potatoes—Another beta carotene power house, I love to bake my own sweet potato fries with chili powder and smoked paprika.
7. Kabocha squash—I first had this squash in a “pumpkin” curry at a Thai restaurant. It can be hard to track down, but it is probably my favorite squash. Also known as the Japanese pumpkin, it is full of beta carotene, iron, vitamin C and potassium.
8. Brussels sprouts—Brussels sprouts are a great source of vitamins K and C. I love them roasted with salt and pepper or steamed with a squeeze of lemon.
9. Zucchini—While these are around in the summer too, the fall brings them in abundance. They are great in soups and chilis. A snippet to illustrate my affinity for them: I named my cat Zucchini.
10. Acorn squash—Yet another fibrous squash high in beta carotene, I first garnered an appreciation for acorn squash when a girlfriend of mine cut one into wedges, drizzled the sections with lime and chipotle-chili infused olive oil and broiled them.
Happy, Healthy Autumn Eating!
