The countdown is on because the first day of Fall is in t-minus 2 weeks. I can hardly contain my excitement for my favorite season of the year!!! Does anyone else turn into an undeniable “basic white girl” this time of year? I’m not even kidding- at the first sign of leaves on the ground, I’m all about leggings, Ugg boots, and pumpkin everything until Christmas Day.
#noshame
In addition to scarves and sweaters, lounging by the fireplace, Hallmark movies, pumpkin bread, and Thanksgiving festivities, I love Fall because I love Fall foods. Like, all of them. I don’t think I’ve met a fall food that I didn’t like.
I wrote a post about seasonal eating in the Summer, which included my favorite Summer foods and explained why I prefer to eat seasonally. To review, here’s why seasonal eating is the best:
Seasonal foods are..
- at their ripest. Meaning, they are the juiciest, sweetest, and best tasting foods available.
- more nutritious. When produce is at it’s ripest, it’s nutrient content is at it’s highest.
- always available locally, so shopping at the farmer’s market is your best bet.
- often cheaper than non-seasonal items. #budget
While choosing my favorite Fall foods is very difficult, because I love them all, these are my top 5 favorite Fall foods:
1. Apples
There’s nothing quite like a crisp, refreshing apple. All kinds of apples- green, red, yellow, and anything in between- are a refreshing and delicious sweet treat. Personally, I love them chilled and raw by themselves, or with a side of natural peanut butter. But, I also love a freshly baked apple pie or crisp. If you do, too, stay tuned for a new recipe coming soon! Until then, you can enjoy one of my favorite savory, apple dishes below. It pairs great with a grass-fed steak or grilled salmon fillet. Yum!
Recipe: Bacon Apple Brussel Sprouts
2. Cabbage
Cabbage is a new found favorite of mine! I remember my mom always hated cabbage while I was growing up, so we never ate it. In fact, I tried cooked cabbage for the first time at the age of 26. I know, there are probably many of you who don’t prefer cabbage, but that just means you probably aren’t following the right recipe. The roasted cabbage recipe below is my favorite because it’s easy, quick, and so delicious!
Recipe: Oven-Roasted Garlic Cabbage
3. Rosemary
Few things are better than fresh rosemary. So, I feel very lucky to have access to my MIL’s huge rosemary garden. Even if you don’t have freshly-grown rosemary available, any fresh rosemary will do! I frequently use rosemary on meats, like chicken and steak, or roasted vegetables, like sweet potatoes or Brussel sprouts.
I actually haven’t tried the short rib recipe shared below. BUT, it sounded too good not to share. And you bet, I’ll be taste-testing it very soon!
Recipe: Rosemary & Garlic Short Ribs
4. Pecans
Truthfully, the only reason I listed pecans is because I love pecan pie. And pecan pie is the perfect sweet treat during the Fall season. Who says you have to wait until Thanksgiving dessert to enjoy a freshly baked pecan pie?!
A couple years ago, I created the pecan pie bar recipe below. It’s my favorite because it’s free of grains, dairy, and conventional sugar, but still tastes like traditional pecan pie. So if you’re following a Paleo-diet, but still want to indulge, I’ve got the recipe for you!
Recipe: Paleo Pecan Pie Bars
5. Pumpkin
Okay, I saved the best for last because nothing beats pumpkin during the Fall season. Nothing. Over the years, I’ve added pumpkin to my oatmeal, mug cakes, and chia seed pudding. However, it also makes for the most perfect addition to many baked goods, like breads, muffins, cakes, donuts, brownies, and more.
I have to say, I hit the ball out of the park with the pumpkin bread and cake donut recipes, below. During the Fall season, they’re frequently made items in my home. So, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Recipe: Perfect Paleo Pumpkin Bread and Paleo Pumpkin Cake Donuts
There you have it, folks: the benefits of eating seasonally, specifically for the Fall season.
Do you eat seasonally? If so, what’s your favorite part of the Fall season? Please share any Fall favorite recipes below! I would love to try them this season! And as noted above, stay tuned for additional Fall recipes coming to the blog, soon!
