Fresh & Healthy Picks For Fall

The fall season is all about comforting foods like soups, roasted veggies, and hearty casseroles, but while you're so focused on the taste, don't forget about keeping things healthy too. The good news is, fall brings plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables that aren't just tasty and perfect for your fall-inspired dishes, but they're good for you too. Here are just 20 that'll keep your diet on the healthy side this season.

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1. Apples

Apples aren't just a tasty, in-season fruit to enjoy during the fall season, they're also incredibly easy to work into your diet. Whether you munch on some slices for a snack, add them as a topping to your breakfast meal, or enjoy them with peanut butter for dessert, these fiber- and vitamin C-filled goodies are a fall treat that's good for your body.

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2. Pumpkins

Fall and pumpkins go hand-in-hand, and while pumpkin spice lattes might get all the attention, we suggest you look at them in a different, more healthy light. Its bright orange flesh isn't just pretty to look at, it also contains fiber, beta-carotene, and other nutrients. When used naturally, it can be delicious stirred into oatmeal, soups, baked goods, and more.

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3. Pears

Who needs sugary desserts when a ripe pear already works beautifully as a naturally sweet snack or treat? It's not just delicious but good for your body too, with one serving providing fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and several other beneficial goodies. If you leave the peel on, you'll get even more of its fiber and nutrients.

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4. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes make it shockingly easy to add more vegetables into your usual diet. During this comfort-food season, it's perfect for turning into mashed sweet potato, roasted wedges, or even healthy fries. They're rich in beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, so you can enjoy them without guilt.

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5. Brussels Sprouts

Now that people are realizing Brussels sprouts can be delicious when prepared properly, they've become a vegetable to look forward to. And that's nice to hear, especially when these little veggies contain fiber, vitamin C and K, and folate in each little one. 

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6. Cranberries

What's more festive for fall than cranberries? You don't even have to wait for Thanksgiving to use them as just a sauce! Because they're naturally low in sugar and contain vitamin C and plenty of other antioxidants, they can be incredibly tasty when used in oatmeal, homemade sauces, salads, and baked dishes. Just don't load it with sugar and let the natural flavors shine to keep it healthy!

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7. Butternut Squash

With such a creamy texture that works great in cold-weather meals like soups or roasted bowls and salads, butternut squash definitely needs to be added to your rotation. That's before even mentioning that they provide beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber! Being low in calories is an added bonus.

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8. Pomegranates

If you don't mind a little bit of tartness, pomegranates can add a festive touch (along with nutrition) to plenty of your fall meals. Each little juicy seed offers fiber, folate, vitamin C, and more! When sprinkled over yogurt, oatmeal, or salads, each bite becomes so much more interesting.

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9. Carrots

Carrots might be a year-round vegetable, but they're particualrly good in fall soups, stews, and roasted dinners. They're already well-known for their beta-carotene content, but they offer much more than that; fiber, potassium, and vitamin K are all up for grabs with this veggie! 

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10. Grapes

Enjoying a handful of fresh, juicy grapes is as good as any sweet dessert. And in the fall, it's an especially good time to enjoy them! They're not just fun to eat though, as these fruits also contain vitamin K, copper, and several antioxidant compounds. So if you're looking for ways to improve your snacking, this is a healthy option.

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11. Beets

Bringing an earthy flavor that's perfect for fall and a striking color to match, beets are a unique root vegetable to add to your diet. They provide fiber, folate, potassium, and manganese in every serving, and can be tasty when cooked properly too! Roasting them is a good go-to, especially if you want to soften their stronger flavor.

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12. Acorn Squash

Another fall vegetable that turns hearty meals even more nutritious, acorn squash definitely delivers in the fiber, vitamin C, and potassium department. They even come in a fun shape that makes it convenient to stuff with vegetables, grains, and other proteins!

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13. Figs

Fresh figs have a short season, so fall is a good time to enjoy them while they're available. Most people love them for their natural sweetness, but you'll be happy to hear they also come with fiber, potassium, calcium, and small amounts of several other minerals. 

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14. Cauliflower

Whether you're enjoying cauliflower as a rice bowl, roasted as a sheet-pan dinner, or worked into soups, it's the kind of vegetable that's so versatile, it's impossible not to love. And when you hear it's also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and fiber, it makes it even more convincing to pick up at the grocery store in the fall.

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15. Persimmons

Persimmons don't always get as much attention as apples and pears, but they definitely should, especially when these orange fruits provide fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese. Fully ripe varieties can taste exceptionally sweet without requiring any added sugar, making for a healthy sweet treat or snack on top of its health benefits.

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16. Kale

Did you know cooler temperatures can actually improve the flavor of kale? Sounds like that makes fall a great time to add it to your meals! And if that doesn't convince you, how about the fact that it's loaded with vitamin K and also offers vitamins A and C, folate, and fiber? 

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17. Turnips

Potatoes are a great fall veggie, but if you want to branch out a bit, turnips should definitely be on that list. After all, these roots contain vitamin C and fiber, all while being lower in carbs and calories! It's even versatile to work with, as you can roast, mash, steam, or add them into soups depending on your preference.

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18. Broccoli

Honestly, broccoli is good year round. Not just in taste, but in health benefits too! It provides vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and fiber, just to name a few. And when fall asks for hearty dinners, this is the kind of vegetable you want at the foundation of your meal.

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19. Cabbage

Cabbage is affordable, versatile, and capable of lasting much longer in the refrigerator than many leafy vegetables, which should check off the boxes for a lot of adults. On top of that, it contains vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and folate while remaining low in calories. Salads, soups, stews, it works in whatever you want.

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20. Parsnips

With a slightly sweet and nutty flavor that gives fall meals some extra depth, parsnips deserve more love than they get. Because with all that fiber, vitamin C, folate, potassium, and manganese content in each serving, your body will be loving it too.

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