Focus on nutrition: fruits and vegetables!

Well folks, the autumn equinox has passed, and fall is officially upon us. The season brings so much to enjoy—from time outside with the family to the beautiful changing foliage and the start of the holiday season. But perhaps  even more fun are all the harvest activities and apple picking we enjoy this time of year. With fruits and vegetables so in the foreground, we thought now would be a great time to turn our attention to the amazing health boosts that they provide.

The health benefits of fruits and vegetables are, simply put, far too many to list here. From keeping your body’s levels of essential vitamins and minerals high to drastically reducing your risk of acquiring numerous diseases, there’s really no better all-around guarantee of good health than a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. If you’re looking for vitamin-C to increase your body’s natural immunity, protect against cardiovascular disease and keep the common cold at bay, look no further than the many citrus fruits such as grapefruits and oranges, as well as guava, kiwi, cantaloupe, and even fresh peppers! Likewise for the family of B-vitamins, which help your body to convert energy and can be found in everything from dates, pineapple and pomegranate to asparagus, pumpkin and kale. And who can forget the well-known link between beta-carotene and the many orange fruits and vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes? All in all, it’s very clear that there are many health benefits only available through a produce-heavy diet. Let’s get to exploring!

So what’s in season? Well, since it’s the start of fall, you can count on certain fruits and vegetables coming back into bloom such as squash, broccoli, grapes and pears. You can also catch the tail-end of the summer produce haul, which—depending on where you live—may include such delicious foods as tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, cherries, plenty of different berries; the long (and very tasty) list goes on and on! And remember, juices, frozen and even canned fruits contain plenty of the same health benefits as the fresh stuff, so just because a particular crop isn’t growing around you, it doesn’t mean you can’t partake! And, of course, there are loads of fruits and vegetables that stay in season or are imported all-year-round: from apples and carrots to bananas, lemons and avocado! So no excuses for not eating healthy—a good diet is always in season!

And thankfully, there is really no end to what we can do with the fruits and vegetables that we choose to purchase. As is, they make great between-meal snacks or treats for our children’s school lunches, not to mention far healthier desserts than the processed and sugar-rich foods we might otherwise reach for. But if you’d like to mix it up, the possibilities really are endless: between salads, soups, smoothies, pies, sandwiches, breakfasts and even full-on grilled entrees (mushroom burgers anyone?), you’ll never run out of ideas. For tips and recipes, check out sites like Fruits & Veggies MoreMatters and AllRecipes.com.

We all lead busy lives, filled with hectic hustle and bustle and responsibility, and it can sometimes seem inconvenient to go out of our way to make the healthy choice. However, the benefits to a nutritious, fruit-and-vegetable filled diet are so many, and the delicious options so vast and easy, that a health-conscious dietary choice is always the better one. This fall, if you find yourself reaching for something processed, consider some fresh produce instead. Your body will thank you!