We’ve been on the hunt for the best in-season fruit and veggies to help you lose weight this fall!
Summer is drawing to a close and we’re all mourning the end of bikini season, endless sunshine and abundant soft fruits. You might already be looking forward to some winter feasting as the days get shorter and colder, but keep your hands and mind off the turkey dinner for now! With the arrival of fall comes a bumper harvest of fruits and vegetables that are in season and can be picked up cheap at your local supermarket or farmers market.
We’ve done our research and hunted out the healthiest and heartiest staple foods that you need to buy to keep your body in optimal shape. Our list contains foods with a combination of micro- and macro-nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will give your body the boost it needs to charge into winter with your bikini body intact!
1PUMPKINS AND SQUASH
This is our favorite fall superfood because it comes in so many shapes and sizes and is so versatile. Nothing quite says fall like an enormous carved pumpkin glowing on the porch – but don’t forget you can eat them too! Pumpkins and squashes are packed full of vitamins A, B and C as well as Omega-3 fatty acids and a single serving contains 20% of your daily recommended amount of fibre. Vitamin B is especially helpful for weight loss as it metabolizes fats, proteins and carbs which get stored in the body as fat.
Recipe 101
Squash makes a great alternative to carby starchy foods. Spaghetti squash is a super quick and easy alternative to – you guessed it – spaghetti. You won’t need a spiralizer with this vegetable as the flesh naturally forms long noodles, simply scrape them out with a fork. One cup of squash is just 40 calories, and when you compare that regular spaghetti’s 220 calories per cup, it’s a no-brainer which one you should choose.
2KIWI
Thanks to agricultural innovations kiwis can now be grown naturally in all kinds of climates so head down to your local market to pick up some of these fresh and juicy fruits, probably grown just down the road from you. Just one kiwi contains 100% of your daily vitamin C and half the amount of potassium as a banana. As well as being low calorie, the vitamins in kiwis help to oxidize fat during exercise, so effectively help you burn more fat quicker.
Recipe 101
Don’t waste time peeling your kiwis – eat them whole with the skin on to get all the nutrients stored in the skin. It’s a bit strange the first time but you’ll grow to love it!
3MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms a literally growing at the side of the road at this time of year, so get down to your local farmer’s market and pick up some of the freshest mushrooms you can get. If you are looking to cut down on your meat intake then mushrooms are the perfect substitute to add to burgers because their texture mimics that of meat. Plus they’re crammed full of antioxidants that repair cell damage and boost your thyroid, as well as being rich in vitamins B and D. The sun may disappearing but you can still get your vitamin D from the humble mushroom!
4PERSIMMONS
These fruits are unfortunately not the most well-known but they should be up there with all the other super fruits. They are a firm orange fruit that are full of vitamins and high in fibre. They also contain manganese and lycopene antioxidants which have been shown in some studies to reduce the risk of cancer.
Recipe 101
The texture of persimmons makes them great for tossing in salads or salsa. They’re also handy as a snack fruit to take to work!
5CAULIFLOWER
Like our good friend the squash, cauliflower is a great substitute for heavy carb-laden foods that are high in starch and will basically dump fat straight onto your belly. Whiz cauliflower up in a food processor to use as a substitute for rice, mash it to sub for potatoes, chop it to use as noodles in mac & cheese, or mash it and bake it to use as a pizza base. It’s high fibre content will leave you feeling fuller for longer so you won’t be tempted to snack.
Recipe 101
Roast florets of cauliflower with your favourite spices in the oven until they start to go brown. Let them cool and fill up sandwich bags that you can store in the fridge and take out with you as a healthy snack instead of chips.
6APPLES
The king of autumn fruits is undoubtedly apples, not only are they delicious and seasonal but they are high in fibre, vitamin C and an antioxidant that enhances collagen production. Collagen is important in protecting your gums and healing wounds, but it also is great for your skin and will help you keep that summer glow long into the winter months. Most of the best nutrients in apples are found in the skin, so make sure you are eating the whole fruit. We suggest buying organic as apples are prone to absorbing a lot of pesticides sprayed on the non-organic types.
7PEARS
Pears are often overlooked at this time of year as many people prefer to buy apples. But pears contain a whole mix of different vitamins that you can’t get from apples, so make sure you mix and match next time you go shopping. Pears also contain 6 grams of fibre and store pectin in their skin, both of which will help keep you fuller for longer. Pectin is a type of insoluble fibre that absorbs water and turn into a gel, which in turn slows down digestion and keeps your stomach full.
Recipe 101
Add slices of pear to grilled cheese sandwiches, to salads or to home made chutney and salsa for a sweet twist.
