My Favorite Autumn Foods
Where has the year gone? I woke up this morning and October has come to an end. Not sure what happened to October – it was a blur of activity.
Autumn has definitely arrived, and for all you busy moms the busy back-to-school season has quickly turned into the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. For the rest of us busy women, we just woke up to the fact that the holidays are here.
I feel like the rabbit in Alice and Wonderland, I’m late!! Hubby keeps asking if I’ve started Christmas shopping, I give the “look” and politely say, “NO!!!”
If you’re anything like me, this last part of the year flies by in a wink. Because of this, it can feel like a time where your out of control schedule is controlling you. You’re pulled in many different directions, and you just want to sit down for a second to catch a break.
One of the beautiful things about nature is that it knows. It knows how insane this time of year gets and exactly what we need to find our way back to what we need from nature. So many grounding foods become available this season, and it’s of our highest benefit to take advantage of them. These foods can ground us and help us to re-balance when we’re feeling out of control.
Here are a few of my favorite Autumn Foods…
Pumpkin and squash
If you’ve been following me this month, you know that I’m all about pumpkins during this beautiful season.
Pumpkin and squash are two traditional autumn foods, but they’re also exactly what we should be eating to ground ourselves. When you want some sweetness in your meal, these are the ideal way to achieve that and a much better alternative to chemical-laden artificially sweetened items.
Just because October has ended, don’t give up on the pumpkins. Keep cooking them all through the season.
Root vegetables
Vegetables that fall into this category are sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips, garlic, and ginger. They add some great flavor to your meal and will make you feel rooted and grounded. Interesting how that works, right? Foods that grow as roots in the ground are naturally rooting and grounding to us. Nature is amazing.
I’m sharing a favorite root recipe with you at the end of this post.
Naturally Fermented Foods
Raw sauerkraut is perfect to add some sourness to your autumn meals, while also strengthening your gut health. Fermented foods don’t only make your meals taste great and assist with grounding you, but they also act as prebiotics and feed all the good bacteria in your gut. Some other naturally fermented food items include kimchi, kefir, kombucha, and pickles, to name a few.
It is vital to keep your gut healthy during the cold months ahead. Start adding fermented foods to your menu.
Add on the proteins
Finding healthy, high-quality protein sources will be of benefit to you this time of year. Proteins that come from high-quality foods give you the nutrients you need to build strong muscle while also feeling more grounded. We tend to crave more substantial meals this time of year due to their grounding effect. Hearty stews and soups are among the most popular food items this season, and that’s exactly why.
Are there any plant-based proteins you have meant to experiment with in the kitchen? Now is a perfect time to be adventurous and try something new. I like to use lentils in soups and beans in stews for the protein they provide.
Don’t pass up these delicious autumn foods that are not only enjoyable but beneficial to us in many ways. Aside from eating foods that naturally ground you, there are other ways you can enjoy feeling grounded. Being in nature has a natural grounding effect — so take a walk outside as often as possible to breathe in the crisp air and enjoy the colorful scenery.
Breathing exercises help with feeling more grounded, so focus on your breathing throughout the day and take note on if you’re breathing freely or holding your breath often. When you notice you’re holding your breath, take a moment to practice a short breathing exercise.
Do you struggle with feeling grounded on most days?
I enjoy being outside (when it’s not too cold) and letting the sun infuse me with energy. There’s something different about the Autumn air that changes my perspective.
Find your favorite way of becoming grounded and releasing the stress that the holiday season brings. You can share your thoughts in our member’s Facebook Group Healthy Living For Life.
Here’s a recipe from my Fall 5 Day Healthy Food Detox for you to enjoy:
Oven Roasted Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1 whole Red or Yellow Beet - peeled
- 1 whole Rutabaga, Turnip, or Parsnip - Scrubbed
- 1 whole Sweet Potato or Yam - peeled
- 1 Head Broccoli or 12 Brussels Sprouts - Trimmed
- 2 Tablespoon Coconut or Olive Oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 - 400 degrees. If you have a convection roast option, use it.
- Cut all vegetables into bite-sized pieces, aiming for relatively equal sizes to allow for even cooking.
- Place veggies on a roasting dish and drizzle with coconut or olive oil, then toss to combine. If using coconut oil, you may need to gently melt it. To do this, place the coconut oil in the empty roasting dish and pop it in the oven for 5 minutes, then add the veggies and toss.
- Roast for 30-45 minutes, depending on how big the pieces are. You'll know your veggies are done when they are fork-tender, meaning you can easily pierce a piece with a fork. Be sure to toss the veggies at least once when roasting - I usually toss them or shake the pan 2-3 times.
- Note: If you don't like any of the ingredients listed above, you can certainly mix and match and substitute. Other good options are cauliflower, mushrooms, and even chopped up kale when added in the last 5 minutes of roasting.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash