What to Eat in Fall Days for Freshness, Taste

Autumn means apple picking, pumpkin pies and spending chilly nights cozied up by the fireplace. It also means a new harvest, featuring foods with earthy flavors packed with nutritious value.

Food is what fuels our bodies, and one way to ensure proper nutrition is to base your grocery list and meals on what produce is in season. At The Oaks at Denville, we’ve compiled this list of fall foods and recipes highlighting both health and taste.

Healthy Fall Foods

Pumpkin – When you think of fall, pumpkin is one of the first things to come to mind. Along with carving on Halloween, pumpkins are a noteworthy ingredient to cook with. From breads to pasta stew, this orange veggie is versatile. Besides being packed with vitamins and minerals, pumpkin is also relatively low in calories and may boost your immunity.

Sweet Potatoes – Not only does sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving delight your taste buds, but it’s good for your gut health, too. Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, which has been shown to promote a healthy digestive system.

Cranberries – Cranberries are a super food that’s low in calories and high in vitamins C, A and K. This major player in fall meals can be served as cranberry sauce, in drinks or dried and added to stuffing or casseroles.

Light Fall Dinner Recipes

Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Bisque – This delightful dish is a resident favorite at The Oaks at Denville. With this recipe, taken directly from the chefs in our community themselves, you’ll experience a creamy blend of two fall staples: winter squash and apple. Plus, this soup offers nutritional benefits. Butternut squash is filled with vitamins A and C, and apples are rich in antioxidants. The nutrients and antioxidants may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

Fall Vegetable Fajitas – Fajitas are a quick, go-to weeknight meal that are easy to pull together while still satisfying your appetite. This recipe highlights red onions and green peppers, and both peak in flavor during the fall season. Green peppers are low in calories and exceptionally rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, and red onions possibly lower the risk of several types of cancer, help improve your mood and maintain the health of skin and hair.

Roasted Cauliflower with Pasta and Lemon Zest – Especially during the colder days, a warm bowl of pasta offers comfort. But, to keep this meal light, be sure to add plenty of veggies to increase the nutritional value. Roasted cauliflower is the seasonal produce that truly makes this dish. This low-calorie vegetable is rich in nutrients, including choline that is essential for learning and memory.

Enjoy Seasonal Flavors at The Oaks at Denville

Our dining experience at The Oaks at Denville features a rotating menu highlighting the best seasonal flavors, so nutrition and quality truly make our food stand apart. Come see for yourself – contact us today to schedule your personal tour. And be sure to stay for lunch, on us!