Broccoli, onions, beans, carrots, kale, leaks, beets, collards, brussels galore… Not to mention apples, pumpkins, persimmons, and figs!
Photo by Ashley Arnold
The late Summer through Fall seasons are a time of abundance and can present the perfect opportunity to focus on the various nutrition powerhouse foods that are readily available. It’s also a time of the year that bustles with various opportunities to spend time outdoors.
Fall’s harvest can be more exciting than those from Spring and Summer. Leafy greens, such as spinach and lettuce, will still be producing and are easy complements to other “cool weather crops” that grow and harvest well in Fall such as those mentioned above. An expansive list is available from The Spruce Eats.
While a few pointers for food options and planting tips are listed in this Harvest to Table blog post, Vegetables for Fall Harvest. This tip, from the article, “cooling and cold weather enhances the flavor of many crops coming to harvest in autumn as plant metabolisms change with cooler temperatures. Sugars accumulate in plant tissues of cool-weather crops as temperatures decline and crops become sweeter flavored. Leafy crops such as lettuce are sweeter tasting in cool weather. Brussels sprouts, kale, and parsnips are noticeably more flavorful when exposed to cooler temperatures and even frost”, is definitely interesting!
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
Furthermore, another blog post, Five Root Vegetables to Plant Now for a Fall Harvest, from Modern Farmer also talks about the sweetness to produce harvested in Fall while also placing a specific focus on root vegetables, which can still be planted late August to early September in many planting zones.
Fall is also one of the best times in the year for festivals and other outdoor events, such as races. Better yet, if you attend a harvest-themed festival with fresh grown food options, it means you can be active, spend time with others, and gain a nutrition punch all in one outing! In perusing through resources on this topic, I found a top 20 list in The Oprah Magazine of Fall festivals throughout the U.S.
Regardless of your healthful emphasis, there is a smorgasbord of opportunity as we move into Fall. Live and relish the moments!
Ashley Arnold
Ashley runs a lifestyle health coaching service centered on evidence-based behavioral change and systematized approaches from integrative health services and healthcare. She includes functional health assessment tools that support setting more clear, realistic goals that are tailored to each client. She appreciates the products and mission of Good Fat Company due to the emphasis on whole-food, nutrition-rich products without processed additives or fillers. Also, the product line is applicable across dietary spectrums from vegan to paleo and most anywhere in between. Further information can be found at www.ashleylarnold.com.
