Johnnie May McDonald - Salad Station Blogger Contributor
Remember those New Year's goals that we all made at the beginning of the year? You know, the ones about eating healthy? Those goals may be long gone, but we can revive them and end the year on a pleasant note. Here are 5 healthy foods for the fall.
1) Brussels sprout.
Before you drift into flashbacks of 8-year-old you who thought Brussels sprout taste weird, let's go over a few ways to spruce up Brussel sprouts. Do not boil, steam, or microwave them. Cooking the bitterness out of Brussels sprouts is easy. Cook them in high heat while caramelizing them will create a sweet and nutty flavor. It will also give them some crispiness. This fall, try cooking Brussel sprouts with bacon, parmesan, or balsamic.
2) Cranberries.
With fall comes cranberry harvest season (mid-September through early November). These berries are dry and bitter, which is why most people shy away from them. However, most producers sweeten them during the drying or canning process. This makes them perfect for fall cranberry recipes such as green salads with pecans and cranberries.
3) Squash.
Fun fact, squash is actually a fruit. It may be sweet like most fruits, but its nutty flavor makes it one of the perfect healthy foods for fall. Try fall squash recipes like ratatouille, butternut squash soup, and cinnamon roasted butternut squash.
4) Zucchini.
Traditionally a fall favorite, zucchini has a mild, slightly sweet, and bitter flavor. There are many fun fall zucchini recipes like baked zucchini and zucchini bread. Since it has a mild flavor, it's easy to mix this veggie with almost any meal, a great way to get your kids to eat veggies.
5) Cucumbers.
We usually associate cucumbers with summer, but if you plant them in mid-August, you can enjoy cucumbers during the fall. Enjoy simple cucumber recipes like cucumber salad. There's never a bad time to add a little freshness to your meals.
These are great ideas for fall vegetables to plant. If you lack a green thumb or missed when to plant fall vegetables, these healthy foods for fall are easily accessible. Your local farmer's market should have all the fresh fall veggies. This fall, don't be afraid to try new vegetables.
In Season Fall Herbs
Spice up your newfound fall veggies with these in-season herbs:
Cilantro
Dill
Basil
Parsley
Chives
Thyme
Rosemary
Sage
Oregano
Mint
Nasturtiums
We hope this list of five healthy foods to try this fall has sparked your creative senses. Happy Fall to all!