It's September 2nd and I can already tell the seasons are starting to change even living here in San Diego where the weather is nice most of the year.
The visible shift as the evenings are beginning to cool off and people are starting to clean out closets, rearrange furniture, pull out their sweaters and jeans, send their kids back to school, and prepare for a whole new season.
Stores are already putting out Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations and my son even mentioned the other day how much he was planning on eating this thanksgiving even though we are still 2 months away! At the end of a great summer fall is a welcome visitor.
I love the season changes!
With each new season brings new beginnings and a fresh new start. Time to cleanse and purge yourself of the previous season and welcome in the new. As you walk the farmers markets you notice that the bright juicy foods that filled the summer months start slowly disappearing making way for a new heartier batch of freshly grown fall veggies and fruits.
With cooler months ahead people begin to swap out those warm evening grilled and cold dinners for much heartier fare. Now is the time of the slow roasted meets, stews, and chili. The dense root vegetables and sweet and savory squashes.
Eating with each season is one of the healthiest ways of eating. Knowing that the foods you are eating are fresh and meant to be consumed during these months and not shipped in from other countries to force a way of eating that was not meant as natural is a warming thought.
Eating with the seasons is cheaper, healthier, better for the environment, supports local farmers and is more organic and what your body was meant to do keeping you more balanced and in harmony with nature.
To help get you eating with the change of the seasons simply take a stroll through our local farmers market. In case that is not an option for you right now take a look below at some of the amazing fall produce that you can start including in your daily menu.
- apples
- beets
- Brussels sprouts
- pomegranates
- parsnips
- pears
- cauliflower
- squash
- pumpkin
- sweet potatoes
- dates
- kiwi
- grapefruit
- tangerines
Here is a recipe to get you started thinking fall meals!
And the best part is that this is a completely 21 day nourish and cleanse approved meal!
Spicy Black Lentils
Ingredients:
4 Cups Roasted chicken broth
2 cups black lentils
2 TBSP cilantro (plus more for garnish
2 diced heirloom tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 jalepeno pepper chopped
1 tsp oregano
2 Tsp cumin powder
1 cup cooked cubed sweet potatoes (optional)
pinch of red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
rinse and pick through black lentils. Heat 4 cups roasted chicken broth (or regular broth) to light boil and pour in lentils. Let cook on low simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add in remaining ingredients except sweet potato and continue cooking until lentils are tender. Add more liquid as needed if lentils become to thick. Add in cubed sweet potatoes if desired and top with chopped cilantro, fresh chopped tomato, and sliced avocado.
Leave me a comment and let me know how you like the lentils and what other healthy fall meals you are enjoying. I always love getting new recipes that people are loving!
As always......in good health and happiness,
Brandy Augustine PhD