 Fall offers new, healthy treats
Yes, it really is fall and although our thermometers may not know it, our grocer’s produce section does. The changing of the seasons brings about changes in fresh produce. It’s fun to make delicious treats out of whatever happens to be in season. So while we may mourn the loss of sweet peaches, cherries and melons, fall brings its own special tastes.
My favorite fall treat is pomegranates. This fruit holds wonderful memories and is truly a comfort food for me. I have fond memories of evenings sitting with my Mom, sharing a pomegranate while watching TV. She’d come home from the store every September excitedly saying “guess what I found at the store today” while pulling the distinctive red fruit from the bag. One of the biggest food issues that I have is that I’m a “grazer.” I like to sit and pick and munch on food while watching TV or reading. If you are like this as well, pomegranates offer a high level of satisfaction in this area. They also have a semi-strong tangy flavor to stimulate taste buds and to top if off, they’re a perfectly healthy food. One whole pomegranate is only about 100 calories and provides about 10% of your daily allowance of Vitamin C.
Another fun fruit abundantly available this season is pears. Pears have a wonderful and distinctive flavor that’s different from other fruits – softer and sweeter than an apple, juicier than a banana and sweeter than an orange. They offer a nice change of pace. And again, a medium pear clocks in at only about 100 calories. They can contain as much as 6 grams of fiber. That means you can get a fourth of your recommended 25 grams of daily fiber in just one little fruit snack!
A tasty choice in the fall vegetable category is sweet potatoes. These are great if you are one of those people like me, who has to have some sort of starch with dinner in order to feel satisfied. Many folks can get by with protein, fruit and veggies all day long, but need that starch serving with dinner. Being a diabetic, I need to be sure and make low-glycemic choices, so sweet potatoes are a wonderful guilt-free solution. Because they are higher in fiber than most root vegetables, they digest slowly. This means your blood sugar rises more slowly and you feel fuller longer. And since they are naturally sweet and tasty, they are great plain – you don’t have to add a lot of toppings as with regular potatoes. And in case you haven’t guessed, one medium sweet potato adds about 100 calories to your daily intake.
So, rather than chowing down on all those pre-packaged, processed 100-calorie snack foods, stock up on some of Mother Nature’s own brand of fresh fall goodness!
Until next time, stay healthy and be happy. |
