Favorite fall foods we hope you love.

11/09/2018

When the weather starts to cool down and the sun begins to set early, we like to call that comfort food season. This time of year is filled with food that is good for the soul. What’s even better is that comfort food doesn’t have to be expensive or unhealthy and there are a ton of ways to prepare the seasonal fare.

Working with our in-house nutritionist and our Community Kitchen team, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite fall comfort foods for inspiration.

Squash

Squash tends to be one of the stars of the fall season. This delicious vegetable has a wide variety of options, including butternut, acorn, spaghetti, pumpkin and many more. Each variety is stocked full of great vitamins and nutrients that have major health benefits like helping with your vision, controlling blood pressure and improving digestion. With many types of squash in season, you can also count on them being an affordable, healthy option for your grocery budget.

For a delicious and super easy squash dish, roasting the squash in the oven with salt, pepper and a bit of olive oil is all they need to make any meal hardy and irresistible. Pair the roasted squash with a protein like chicken or beans and you’ve got a classic fall meal you’ll want all the time.

Sweet potatoes

They may be a starch, but sweet potatoes pack a big punch of health benefits. Much like squash, sweet potatoes are good for things like digestion and blood pressure. Compared to white potatoes, sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber and is lower in starch despite the extra sugar. When able to swap sweet potato for regular white potato you get more nutrition per bite. Sweet potatoes are also super affordable whether you are buying in bulk or one at a time, and have a long shelf life.

Sweet potatoes made any way are sure to be a crowd pleaser, but we love them as an alternative to regular french fries by cutting them into strips and baking at a high temperature with a bit of salt and pepper, or use them in a tasty potato soup.

Apples

This fruit has become synonymous with fall. From apple cider to applesauce and all the yummy desserts in between, apples are a big favorite this time of year. Whether you prefer them sweet or to have a tangy bite, each variety is packed with vitamins and nutrients that are an important part of a healthy diet.  Apples are well known to be heart healthy and can help prevent heart disease by combatting high cholesterol and providing lots of fiber. They are also good for your brain and can help reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes.

Apples can be prepared in a wide variety of amazing ways, but to keep it healthy, leave the skins on and add them to meals like oatmeal as a natural sweetener, or include them as part of a turkey sandwich for that extra crispy bite.

Cabbage

Cabbage hasn’t always had the most appetizing reputation, but when cooked right it’s not only delicious but is also one of the healthiest foods you can eat. For such a low calorie vegetable, cabbage is bursting with nutrients and health benefits you’ll love. It can help reduce chronic inflammation due to its high levels of antioxidants, as well as improve your digestion, lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

The great thing about cabbage is how easy it is to incorporate into your diet. It can be a great rice substitute in dishes like stir fry, or add it raw to your tacos for a little crunch.

These are just a few examples of what the fall season has to offer. There are lots of quick and easy ways to prepare healthy and yummy meals you that your household will all enjoy. At Feed More, our Bayard Community Kitchen works every day to create delicious meals, packed full of good nutrition that all of our recipients have grown to love.