Navigating Fall to Maintain a Healthy Weight
Key Takeaways:
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep weight gain at bay during the seasonal transition from summer to fall by developing a diet strategy.
- Farmers’ markets continue to offer a wide selection of goods, adapting to the changing seasons with fall produce such as root vegetables and a variety of squashes.
- Fall vegetables are perfect for hearty soups and stews and are packed with nutrients, offering a satisfying plant-based meal option.
- While summer fruits may not be readily available, fall fruits such as apples, pears, and grapes offer naturally sweet alternatives, serving as healthier dessert options.
- The availability of seasonal produce can be utilized to support a healthy eating habit throughout the year.
As we transition from summer to fall, the abundance of produce changes with the season. It’s tempting to replace fresh fruits and vegetables with less healthy snacks, or even fall into a sedentary lifestyle. Having a diet strategy can help maintain your health and keep weight gain at bay during this shift.
Harvest Season is Not Over
Even with the changing of the seasons, farmers’ markets continue to offer a wide selection of goods across the country. By adjusting your buying habits with the change of season from summer to fall commodities, you can continue to consume locally grown goods. Tomatoes and cucumbers make way for fall crops such as root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and turnips. There’s also the wide variety of squashes including acorn, butternut, Hubbard, and kabocha.
Pots of Health
These fall vegetables are perfect for filling, prepped soups and stews, ideal for dinner or a packed lunch. Vegetables like sweet potatoes are chock-full of vitamin A. Don’t neglect nutrient-dense, leafy greens like different types of chard and bok choy. You might find an abundance of brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables. Try these roasted with a modest drizzle of olive oil and a last-minute splash of balsamic vinegar for a satisfying plant-based meal.
Autumn’s Natural Sweetness
Although summer fruits, like melons and berries, might no longer be readily available, the cool season introduces sweet fall fruits including apples, pears, and grapes. You may also enjoy exotic fruits such as pomegranates, persimmons, and quince, early cranberries, and even fall raspberries. Keep a bowl of fruit salad on standby as a healthier alternative to oily chips and crackers. Baked apples or poached pears can serve as delightfully sweet dessert options that satisfy your sugar cravings healthily.
Additional Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides a seasonal produce guide to support your healthy eating habits all year round.
