Fall in Love with Seasonal Produce

By: Tayla Carter, MS, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian II, Signature Healthcare

Although autumn is drawing to a close, there’s still time to enjoy all that New England has to offer, including seasonal fruits and vegetables. There are many benefits to eating produce that is in season. Seasonal produce is usually more affordable, and if it is grown locally, it does not have to travel as far from farm to supermarket, so it is more fresh and nutritious. Purchasing produce from a local farm stand or farmers market is a great way to support local farms and farmers as well.

Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale, grow well in the cooler fall weather. Winter squash, such as butternut and acorn squash, root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, and tubers, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, grow throughout the summer and are harvested in the fall. Try roasting them in the oven for a hearty and nutritious side dish or to add to a fall salad.

Switch Up Your Squash

Most people are familiar with butternut squash, but there are so many others to choose from, such as acorn squash, spaghetti squash, and delicata squash. This group of squash, also referred to as winter squash, is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. Make a creamy soup or a naturally sweet side dish. One of my favorite side dishes in the fall is roasted delicata squash. The best part? You can eat the skin, so no peeling is required! Click the link below for cooking instructions. https://www.rachelcooks.com/how-to-cook-delicata-squash/

Fuel Up with Fruit

Although there are so many delicious fall vegetables to choose from, let’s not forget about the fruits that are available this season. Strawberries and watermelons may be gone, but apples, pears, and cranberries grow abundantly in New England in the fall. Whether you pick them yourself or pick them up at the store or farm stand, apples and pears make a great snack throughout this season and are a good source of vitamin C and fiber. Tart cranberries are a great addition to baked goods and are high in antioxidants. Check out this recipe for an apple cranberry crisp for a perfect fall dessert: https://www.bostongirlbakes.com/apple-cranberry-crisp/