What’s in season: fall!

Why fall is the best time of year

Fall is the most magical time of year and it’s my first fall in New England since I moved to Oregon in 2015 and I am SO excited for it.

The start of a new year is usually what we associate with the biggest time of change, but I find this transition from summer to fall to be where the most change happens. Three months of long spontaneous summer days and schedules packed with travel, visitors, camps, etc…are gone.

The weather is getting crisp and cool, the days get shorter and therefore more precious, and I just love stepping on those crunchy leaves that blanket the ground. Plus, we start craving and eating more warming soups, roasted meats and veggies, and spiced treats.

Now starts the season of slowing down and getting back into a steady routine – nature’s way of reminding us to shift our daily habits. This is a great time to hit the reset button, set some new goals, and get your sh!t together!

It’s also an amazing time of year because we have those end of summer tomatoes, peaches, and corn sitting right next to apples and winter squash.

Shifting your diet from summer to fall

As the weather gets cooler, our bodies naturally start to crave warmer, softer, comforting foods. By eating seasonally, we naturally adapt to the change of weather, supporting the shift in mental, physical, and emotional health that comes as the days get shorter, darker, and cooler. Thankfully, if you’re cooking along with the Cooking Club, you’ll be doing just that!

Over the past few months, we’ve been eating lots of raw, cold foods, salads, grilled meats, and simple, no-cook meals. Fall is the time to start turning those ovens back on and get your soup pots out. Fill up on warming, nourishing foods that make you feel grounded and bring you comfort. 

Why do we crave these foods as the weather cools and the days shorten? Maybe it’s because eating more comforting, starchy, carbohydrate-rich foods produces more mood-boosting chemicals in the brain.

Or maybe it’s because the shift in seasons tends to make our immune systems more vulnerable, so we crave those immune-boosting spices, veggies, and warm soups. Or maybe it’s more evolutionary – increased body weight in the winter meant you were more likely to survive. There are lots of reasons why we crave certain foods during certain seasons.

The most important thing to do is to listen to your body and what it craves. It has a funny way of telling us exactly what we need.

Lately, I’ve been craving a warm muffin or scone in the mornings to have with my matcha latte. I love smoothies for breakfast, but I don’t like drinking cold things when it’s chilly out, so I use hot water instead of cold to make smoothies more room temperature. And, of course, I’ve been testing all of the fall recipes for you so I’m in full on fall mode and loving it.

Related: Learn more about the benefits of eating with the seasons here.

What’s in season during the fall months?

As we get deeper into fall, those juicy and sweet summer fruits and veggies get replaced with a variety of starchy root vegetables, spicy cruciferous vegetables, and bitter greens that are just waiting to be roasted or cooked slowly and transformed into something completely different!

Below is a general list of some produce that are in season now or soon to come. The best way to really know what’s in season in your area is to head to your local farmers market, if available.

Sneak peek into some future fall recipes!