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Fall is my favorite season. I love cooler temperatures, watching the leaves turn beautiful oranges and reds and sipping on warm apple cider. It’s a beautiful transition to watch nature prepare to rest for winter.
In the mid-Atlantic, fall also means apples, pears, winter squash and dark leafy greens make more of an appearance on my plate. Admittedly, sometimes I’m looking for a few new ways to incorporate fall’s bounty into my meal plan and I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite recipes for you to try this fall season.
Winter Squash
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Winter squash represents several different species and differs from summer squash because it is eaten when the vegetable is at the mature stage and the skin has hardened into a tough rind. Winter squash varieties that you might commonly see in the grocery stores includes acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, delicata squash, and pumpkin. The nutrient profile of winter squash varies depending on the specific type, but they are a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Here are a few creative ways to incorporate more winter squash into your diet.
Abbey Sharp’s Sausage, Kale & Squash Soup
Abbey Sharp is a registered dietitian and author of an award-winning cookbook. Check out her ideas for enhancing canned soups to make them into more satisfying meals. My favorite is her Sausage, Kale and Squash soup featured in the video.
Ina Garten’s Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash
This Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash recipe from Ina Garten couldn’t be easier and is a simple but delicious way to add some squash to your plate.
Leafy Greens
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Leafy greens are nutrient rich, and often I advise my clients to aim to incorporate at least 2 cups at minimum weekly. Leafy greens are rich in vitamins A, C and K, several B vitamins as well as potassium. The darker the greens the more nutrients they contain. Here are two of my favorite ways to incorporate dark leafy greens into my day.
Beginner’s Luck Green Smoothie
Many different green smoothie recipes are available online, but I like this one as an introductory recipe for incorporating a green smoothie into your diet, especially if you have never tried it. The ratio of liquid, leafy greens and tropical fruit make this a winner even for people who might be skeptics and wrinkle their nose at trying a green smoothie.
Megan Roosevelt’s Harvest Salad
Megan Roosevelt is a registered dietitian and the star of The Healthy Grocery Girl. Check out her recipe for a simple crispy roasted chickpea and kale salad, an inspired salad for this season.
Apples & Pears
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In the fall, there are two fruits you can always spot in my grocery cart: apples and pears. When unpeeled, both apples and pears are good sources of fiber and contain other important vitamins and minerals. They can be used in both sweet and savory dishes or simply eaten alone as a snack.
Don’t be afraid to put a few more processed versions of apples and pears in your grocery cart. Items like unsweetened applesauce and canned pears packed in juice are great pantry staples that are readily available if you are unable to make it to the grocery store and need some pantry produce options. Here are a few fun ways to use the apples and pears you have in your kitchen.
Martha Stewart’s Poached Pears with Pistachio Brittle
Foodess’s Chicken Stew with Apples and Cabbage
Foodess is run by Jennifer Pallian, a registered dietitian and a professional recipe developer, who creates some of the most delicious recipes ever. If you don’t already follow her website or instagram account, I highly recommend following and trying some of her creations. This chicken stew recipe might sound like an unconventional combination, but it won’t disappoint your taste buds.
What are your favorite seasonal fall recipes? Tag us at @thewell_alisonandari and share your recipes featuring seasonal fall produce.