Fall is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year. It marks the return of cozy sweaters, tall boots, cool mornings for running and beautiful changing leaves. I’m certainly not ready for winter yet, but fall? I’ve been greeting it with open arms over the last month.
In honor of my favorite season, here is a round up of some of my very favorite healthy recipes for fall. I hope you enjoy them!
Sweet Potato Recipes
Did you know that sweet potatoes boast anti-inflammatory benefits due to their high levels of vitamin B-6? This, coupled with the potassium, copper, and manganese they contain, make sweet potatoes a perfect post-workout snack that can help your muscles recover properly! They’re also a great source of fiber and are low on the glycemic index.
I absolutely love sweet potatoes, both in savory and sweet form. Here are a few of my favorite sweet potato recipes – eat up!
Sweet Potato Lentil Coconut Curry {pictured above}
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Veggie Enchiladas
BBQ Chickpeas with Sweet Potatoes & Bok Choy
Sweet Potato Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Sweet Potato Whole Wheat Bread Pudding
Sweet Potato Banana Oat Muffins
Sweet Potato Cranberry Coconut Muffins
Mexican-Style Sweet Potato Fries {pictured below}
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Apple Recipes
Apples have compounds called phytonutrients that can help regulate your blood sugar. One of the most notable is a flavonoid called quercetin, which slows down the enzymes that break carbohydrates into simple sugars while increasing the uptake of glucose from your blood. Apples are also a great source of water-soluble fiber (in the form of pectin), which binds with LDL cholesterol and eliminates it from your body. For the greatest benefits, eat the whole apple, including the skin, where most of the fiber and antioxidants lie.
In the winter, spring, and summer, I’m not really a huge apple person, but fall, with its extraordinarily juicy and flavorful apples, is a different story entirely. If you prefer baking apples to eating them raw (or if you just like to mix it up, like me), here are some ideas!
Almond Butter French Toast with Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Topping {pictured above}
Blueberry Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Bread
Turkey, Gouda, Avocado, Apple & Mustard Sandwich
Cranberry Cinnamon Apple Baked Brie
Apple Walnut Crunch Spelt Muffins {pictured below}
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Winter Squash Recipes {butternut squash & pumpkin}
Winter squashes are a well-recognized source of carotenoids, antioxidants that give them their orange hue. Squashes are particularly high in beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A in your body), which helps your cells fight against breast cancer while improving eyesight and supporting healthy skin. In addition, their high antioxidant and potassium content result in anti-inflammatory effects that allow your muscles to recover properly after a tough workout.
Winter squashes are my favorite ingredients to use for fall baked goods, as you can tell by the sheer quantity of muffins and bread in this section! I hope you give some of these pumpkin and butternut squash recipe faves a try:
Spiced Butternut Squash Muffins {pictured above}
Gluten Free Spiced Pumpkin Pancake
Fresh Cranberry and Walnut Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Muffins (or Bread) of Deliciousness
Black Bean and Pumpkin Veggie Burgers
Oatmeal Banana Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin Goji Biscotti {pictured below}
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Cranberry Recipes
Last but not least, cranberries! Cranberries are extraordinarily high in antioxidants that can help protect against many types of cancers and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. A compound in cranberries called proanthocyanidine has been found to prevent plaque buildup on teeth and fight bacteria that allow for viral infections.
Fresh cranberries are best in the fall, but you can enjoy their health benefits year round in dried form!
Cranberry Quinoa Peanut Butter Power Bars {pictured above}
Spiced Cranberry Compote Oatmeal
Sweet Potato Cranberry Coconut Muffins
Cranberry Cinnamon Apple Baked Brie
Fresh Cranberry and Walnut Pumpkin Bread {pictured below}
What’s your favorite fall ingredient or recipe?
