Ah, Fall.
Crisp, cool mornings followed by warm afternoons.
Leaves changing from green to red, yellow, and orange and gently falling to the ground below.
And pumpkin. Lots and lots of pumpkin! Doesn’t Fall just have some of the best flavors that you look forward to eating every year come the end of summer?
© mythja – stock.adobe.com
Fall Produce
I’m just a fool for Fall and it’s mainly because of the distinct flavors you can find in the produce.
So why are we talking about Fall produce? Because it’s smart to eat what’s in season, both for your bank account and your body.
Are you just as excited about the variety of flavors as I am? Take a look at all the produce that is in season this Fall!
As you scan the list below, base your own meal plan off what is in season in your area. At the bottom of the post, I will list the websites where I got the information for what is in season in fall. These sites are mainly intended for the United States. I highly encourage you to check out the Seasonal Food Guide (the 2nd resource) because you can search more specifically in your own state and find out what to look for at the Farmers Market.
Acorn Squash
Apples
Artichokes
Arugula
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Butternut Squash
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cranberries
Edamame
Eggplant
Endive
Figs
Garlic
Ginger
Grapes
Green beans
Guava
Huckleberries
Jalapeno peppers
Kale
Key Limes
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Mushrooms
Onions
Parsnips
Passion Fruit
Pear
Peppers
Persimmons
Pineapple
Pomegranate
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Quince
Radicchio
Radishes
Shallots
Spinach
Sweet Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Turnips
Zucchini
Don’t be afraid to try some new fruits or vegetables this Fall. Some of the best ways to prepare Fall vegetables is by roasting them or making a beautiful, vibrant soup. I love to make a sweet potato soup that has apples in it, and it just screams Fall!
If you involve your kids in picking out fresh produce and then let them help prep a meal with that produce, you will probably notice that they want to eat what they’ve created. My kids are still fairly young, but I try and let them in the kitchen as often as possible. By doing this, I can teach my kids about different flavors in the food and show them a variety of culinary skills.
To make it easier to add some seasonal variety to your weekly meal plan, focus on one or two fruits or vegetables at a time. Maybe choose one vegetable each week and prepare it three different ways to see what everyone’s favorite preparation method is for that specific vegetable.
The best place to start if you have never tried a specific fruit or vegetable before is just googling it. Or look for it on Pinterest. You should be able to find a great recipe without much effort. Sometimes, you really don’t even need a recipe and you can just enjoy the produce as a snack. I would definitely suggest doing this with at least pears, apples, and pomegranate!
Find all the posts about eating in season over here.
What Fall produce do you enjoy cooking with?
Resources:
Fall Fruits and Vegetables from About Food
Seasonal Food Guide from Sustainable Table
What’s in Season? A Guide to Seasonal Food in Britain
What’s in Season? Fall from Fruits & Veggies: More Matters
Mm, all of this sounds so delicious! There’s nothing better than fresh food from the market, and foods like sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and apples are so delicious this time of year. Thanks so much for all the info! I can’t wait to go to my local farmer’s market this fall!