The last days of summer are usually considered sad at the local farmer’s market. It’s hard to say goodbye to the sweet corn and flavorful tomatoes, but fall is no slouch when it comes to being a great season for healthy, delectable foods. Add these to your Saturday shopping list:
Apples. Sweet, tart, golden, green, or red—they are all delicious. And yes, the old saying is true; an apple a day can keep the doctor away. This crunchy, delicious fruit is filled with antioxidants and phytochemicals that ward off heart disease, cancer, and other ills. Of course, this does not work if you smother them in sugar and bake them in a pie. Eat them fresh or lightly cooked with a little honey and a granola crumble.
Butternut squash. This is the season of the gourd, but butternut is a favorite squash for a good reason. It’s packed with potassium and vitamin A, and may help regulate blood pressure. This golden fruit (technically, it’s not a vegetable) is also incredibly versatile—it’s wonderful roasted, but it’s best in soup. Try this creamy butternut and sweet potato bisque
Brussel sprouts. O.K. they can be boring if you just boil them with butter, but cook them right and they are a wonderful treat. Plus, Brussel sprouts are full of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and potassium. The vegetable’s high fiber and nutrient content also helps your body balance blood sugar. Roast them with pecans or almond slivers (toss in olive oil, salt and pepper, roast at 400 degrees until brown and tender).
Pears. This sweet, flavorful fruit is at it’s best in the fall. Full of vitamins C, K, B2, B3, and B6, pears are also excellent for digestion and easing constipation, even in children. When ripe, they are so good they are best eaten fresh, but peel and poach them in a little orange juice, with a few fresh cloves and cinnamon sticks for an amazing, low-calories dessert.
About Fierce Fridays — Tips for Weekend Well-Being
We each cherish those precious days off at the end of the week, but increasingly those of us who are charter members of the sisterhood of the stressed and overworked are losing our Saturday and Sunday leisure time to weekend work and domestic duties.
To make sure that you do something every weekend that’s just for you, we’ll be sharing a little advice to make those 48 hours a great time to recharge your batteries, bring a little good news into your life, or discover a quick and easy way to improve your health.
