Fall is harvest season. This means that if there is ever an optimum time to stop by your local farmers market, now would be it. But before you strike out, it's important that you know about some of the top foods that are in their prime right about now.
The reason why it's so beneficial to consume foods that are in season is 1) you'll be able to take the most advantage of the nutrients that they contain, and 2) you can forego all of the preservatives that foods need to remain "edible" whenever they are out of season.
Two other benefits that come from eating seasonal food is it's better for the environment and you'll be doing your partner to sustain farmers in your area. Plus, seasonal foods are cheaper in price as well. Now do you see why it's a good idea to eat as many seasonal fall foods as you possibly can?
If you're totally down, but you're not 100 percent sure which fruits and veggies make the list, I've included 10 of 'em. As a bonus, I included a recipe for you to try, just in case you want to impress some of your friends with all of your fall cuisine knowledge. Are you ready to get a healthy dose of fall-themed nutrition into your system?
1. Artichokes
One of the reasons why artichokes are so good for you is they are loaded with all sorts of nutrients. They contain vitamins B6, C and K, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium and even calcium—and that's just for starters! If you're a vegetarian or vegan, you'll be happy to know that they've got around 4.2 grams of protein (raw) as well. As far as the health benefits of artichokes go, they are able to help regulate your blood pressure, detoxify your liver, lower your blood sugar levels, relieve symptoms that are related to irritable bowel syndrome and, they contain cancer-fighting properties as well.
Fall Recipe To Try:Warm Artichoke-Olive Dip
2. Brussel Sprouts
When I was younger, I ate Brussel sprouts because I was made to. These days, I enjoy them based on how they are prepared. If you're someone who's always been a fan of this vegetable, that definitely works in your favor because they've got quite a bit of vitamins C and K in them, along with Vitamin A, folate and manganese. If you're constantly on the quest for a food with fiber, Brussel sprouts totally have your back. Another great thing about this vegetable is it's got omega-3 fatty acids as well. Thanks to the Vitamin K they contain, Brussel sprouts can help your blood to clot; thanks to the Vitamin C, you'll get a good amount of antioxidants into your system and, thanks to its sulfur compounds, it's the type of vegetable that can be a wonderful detoxifier—a real plus if you're trying to treat adult acne.
Fall Recipe To Try: Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Avocado & Pomegranate Seeds
3. Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is pretty bananas on the health benefits front. As far as Vitamin A goes, it's got a record 457% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) in it. Butternut squash also has a healthy dose of almost all of the vitamin Bs, as well as vitamins C, E, magnesium, potassium and manganese. If you're looking for a delicious way to stay regular, butternut squash is a good source of fiber. Also, because of the Vitamin C that it contains, it's the kind of vegetable that will support your immune system, protect your skin (UV rays can still affect it during the colder months) and reduce inflammation too. As a bonus, since it's only 100 calories per serving, butternut squash is the kind of food that can help you to lose weight too.
Fall Recipe To Try: Butternut Squash Risotto
4. Figs
Two things that are considered to be "nature's candy" are raisins and figs. A part of the reason is because they have a good amount of natural sugar in them. In fact, it's not uncommon for some people to turn figs into a paste and use them as a natural sweetener alternative for their dessert recipes. On the health tip, figs are another good source of fiber. Figs also are able to help control diabetes, lower cholesterol levels, strengthen bones, relieve sore throats, fight free radicals and, thanks to all of the antioxidants in them, they can keep your skin and hair looking pretty amazing too.
Fall Recipe To Try: Fig-Ruby Port Preserves
5. Kohlrabi
If you're not familiar with what kohlrabi is, it's basically a vegetable that's related to cabbage (another food that is in season this time of year, by the way). It is considered to be a cruciferous vegetable and has the nickname "German turnip". Kohlrabi is awesome because it has a whopping 93 percent of the daily value of Vitamin C that you need. It also contains a good amount of Vitamin B6, along with some potassium and manganese. Kohlrabi is a good veggie to eat during this time of the year because it's got the antioxidants anthocyanins, isothiocyanates and glucosinolates—all of which help to strengthen your immune system. Not only that but kohlrabi promotes a healthy gut, lowers your risk of heart disease, provides quite the energy boost, strengthens your eyes and even helps to prevent anemia.
Fall Recipe To Try: Crisp Apple & Kohlrabi Salad
6. Pears
Kind of as a sidebar, something that I like about pears is the fact that they represent wisdom. In Zora Neale Hurston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God, the pear tree was a symbol of inner peace as well. So, why not bite into some insight and tranquility this fall? If you do, you'll be enjoying a sweet fruit that will not cause your blood sugar to spike. Something else that's cool about pears is it's a food that has a nice source of fiber in them. Other things that make pears worthy of being on your grocery shopping list is they've got Vitamin C, potassium, electrolytes, magnesium and copper. Also, if you snack on one before you work out, the complex carbs in them will make it easier for you to complete your exercise regimen.
Fall Recipe To Try: Red Wine Poached Pears and Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Filling
7. Persimmons
If you don't know what persimmons are, they are a fruit that is in peak condition right about now that's known as being a "divine fruit". Because they are rich in catechins and polyphenolic antioxidants, persimmons can provide powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. Some other claims to fame with this particular fruit is its ability to curb your appetite without you having to worry about gaining weight (due to it being a low-calorie fruit). Persimmons also are low in sodium which makes them good for reducing hypertension, they contain copper that can support the production of healthy red blood cells, and—here's a random fun fact—a lot of Japanese people use them as a natural way to treat hiccups. (Try it and report back!)
Fall Recipe To Try:Persimmon Compote
8. Red Grapes
To tell you the truth, all grapes are in season during the early part of the fall. The reason why I specifically listed red ones is because, is it just me, or do they seem to taste better than white ones during this particular time of the year? Anyway, you'll want to store up on some of these because of all of the vitamins C and K that they have. Red grapes also have copper in them (something that your body needs if you want to naturally fight premature greying). Something else that's cool about red grapes is they've got 1,600 beneficial plant compounds in them to help keep chronic diseases at bay. One of those compounds is called resveratrol; it's got the ability to treat and help prevent cancer cells. Two other good things about red grapes is their ability to lower cholesterol levels and even boost brain health (this includes improving your memory).
Fall Recipe To Try: Sangria Grapes
9. Salsify
Salsify is a root vegetable that has a very slightly sweet flavor to it. One of the main reasons why people eat it is to treat constipation, due to all of the fiber that it has. Salsify also contains quite a bit of the B vitamins and Vitamin C, along with iron, zinc, phosphorus and magnesium. It's a good source of protein as well. Salsify is another food that will keep your immune system in great shape. And, you'll want to eat it if you want to stay on top of regulating your blood pressure, improving your skin's appearance and, due to the calcium that's in it, reducing your PMS-related symptoms too.
Fall Recipe To Try: Splendiferous Salsify Soup
10. Sweet Potatoes
One more. I'm pretty sure you already knew that the perfect food known as sweet potatoes is in season during the autumn. If you definitely love the taste of homemade sweet potato pie (or sweet potato French fries), but you're not crystal clear on all of the ways it benefits your health, let's run through a few reasons, shall we? They are also a vegetable that's a great source of fiber. Some other wonderful benefits is they can help to keep you from developing a Vitamin A deficiency; the magnesium in them can keep your stress levels low; they've got compounds in them to guard your body against ulcers; they contain antimicrobial properties that fight against health challenges like pneumonia and, the vitamins A, C and E are wonderful for your skin. So yeah, if you don't get anything else on this list, at least pick up a few sweet potatoes. It's a signature fall food that is as healthy as it is delicious. Enjoy!
Fall Recipe To Try: Sweet Potato Pancakes
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The pair often says they’re two sides of the same coin. Skylar is an Aquarius. She attended art school, paints, and loves poetry. She’s more than happy to let the couple’s management firm and agency, Kensington Grey, handle their admin work. And, she loves to sleep in. Temi, on the other hand, wakes up early. He’s a Virgo. He loves a to-do list and regularly checks in on the couple’s brand partnerships spreadsheet to make sure everything is on track.
Because his storytelling was steeped in his love of technology, he didn’t always think of himself as a creative person. “Where I [am] the dreamer who wants to pluck things out of the sky and spend all day with my head in the clouds, Temi [is] so good at grounding me and helping me figure out how to make things make sense on paper. We just work together in such a complimentary way,” Skylar says.
It’s been more than six years since Brooklyn-based couple Temi and Skylar started dating, and nearly four since they cemented their working relationship. On TikTok and Instagram, the couple’s travel, fashion, and home content regularly rack up hundreds of thousands of views. They’ve worked with brands such as Coach, Aesop, Away, and Liquid IV, bringing their vibrant perspectives to every campaign they execute. Still, nearly two years since both Temi and Skylar committed to full-time content creation and creative directing, the couple says their romantic connection remains their priority.
“We told each other we would much rather go back to full-time jobs and preserve our relationship than to be full-time freelancers, barely getting a night's rest [and] barely kissing each other because we're so busy shooting,” Skylar says.
Working from home can make it hard to separate work from personal life for any entrepreneur. It can be even more challenging when your business partner is also your lover. Temi and Skylar had already used couples therapy as a tool to help them effectively communicate with one another. When they ran into challenges while working together, their therapist helped them set physical boundaries to help combat the issues.
"We told each other we would much rather go back to full-time jobs and preserve our relationship than to be full-time freelancers, barely getting a night's rest [and] barely kissing each other because we're so busy shooting."
“It actually took us doing very specific physical things to create boundaries between work and play in our relationship,” Skylar says. “So, for instance, we will only have conversations about work when we're out of bed or we're at the table or in the office. Initially, when we started, we had to light a candle to say that, 'Okay, this is a space where we're connecting, we’re not talking about work.' We needed really hard boundaries at the top. And then it became a little bit more organic.”
The boundaries have been crucial to implement, especially because the couple began working together so naturally. When the pair first met, Skylar was NY-based a social strategist for BuzzFeed and was using content creation to drive business to her lingerie company. She was shooting her own content. Temi was working for Microsoft in D.C. He’d recently traded in his DJing equipment for a camera. “I've always loved taking pictures,” he says. “Even when I was a kid, my African mother would wake me up at 3:00 a.m. [during a] party, and be like, 'Come take the family picture.'”
Growing up, Temi says he watched his parents support each other and be the true definition of partners. He knew he wanted the same for his own relationship. But, the couple also wanted to make sure they were being financially responsible. The pair didn’t quit their traditional jobs until they’d saved up two years' worth of their cost of living. And, Temi received his Master of Business Administration from New York University with the knowledge that it could either help him advance in his corporate career or be applicable to his business with Skylar.
Temi and SkylarCj Hart @hartbreakToday, they say their working relationship is more of a “quiet dance.” They still implement some of the boundaries they learned in therapy, but they also lean into their natural strengths and deep love for one another. When we speak, Temi has planned a date for the couple to see Princess Mononoke in 4K IMAX and added it to their Notion so they can factor it into their busy schedules. “I fully plan to date for the rest of my life,” he says.
Skylar says the couple doesn’t just wait for date nights to check in with one another, though. This often happens in the mornings, after Temi has made her peppermint tea and poured himself a cup of coffee. When they ask each other how they slept, she says, it’s not just a “nicety.” It’s a genuine question meant to foster connection.
“A lot of it happens during the day in the midst of work. We'll stop and we'll hug. Or we’ll slow dance in the kitchen,” she says. “Sometimes it's hard to set a whole date night when you have 7,000 things going on. So, we must grasp these moments and check in when we can. And I think it's become so organic to us that I actually didn't even realize how often we do it. But all day long, we're like, 'Are you good? I felt like your energy shifted,' because we're best friends, we just know. We just feel it happen.”
What’s better than being in love? Building wealth while doing it. Watch Making Cents here for real stories of couples who make money moves together.
Featured image by Cj Hart @hartbreak