The 5 Best Fall Foods

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Fall is one of my favorite times of year; I love watching the leaves turn and our perpetually sweltering Southern California days start to cool with cloudy skies and brisk breezes. But even more than the change in weather and scenery, I love fall foods. They are so diverse and eclectic that they can breathe new life into even the most tried-and-true recipes. So get creative and have fun in the kitchen adding some of these ingredients in your favorite dishes.

Apples
Probably the most overlooked and under-appreciated of the Fall crop, they are high in anti-oxidants and low in calories. Apples can also add an easy twist to your everyday meals. Add chopped apples to your bowl of oatmeal, top a peanut butter sandwich with sliced apples for a surprising crunch, or serve baked apples topped with dried cranberries or raisins, brown sugar and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Cranberries
I have always loved cranberries in all its incarnations. Not only are they delicious and low-cal, they really do help prevent urinary tract infections and they're packed with antioxidants, are high in fiber and vitamins A and C. One of my favorite ways to enjoy cranberries is to sprinkle fresh or dried cranberries onto salads (both vegetable and fruit salads), or add dried cranberries to muffins and pancakes.

Winter squash
I am not a squash person at all- however, even I can't resist a great winter squash, particularly pumpkin. There are so many different kinds to enjoy: acorn, Hubbard, spaghetti, butternut, delicata‑ you could spend all winter playing with different squash recipes. On top of being yummy, Winter squash is a great source of vitamin A and fiber, and even though it's a "starchy" vegetable, it's lower in calories than you might think. One cup baked squash has only 80 calories, which is less than a slice of most types of bread. Add that to its six grams of fiber, and you can't go wrong.  Include chunks of squash to your favorite soups or stews instead of potatoes or rice for a satisfying and delicious meal.

Pomegranates
Easily my favorite of these seasonal foods, pomegranates are as good for you as they are delicious. They provide 16% of the daily vitamin C requirement, and pomegranate juice is also a good source of vitamin B, potassium and antioxidants. Just be sure to check the label on pomegranate juice because some brands can have up to 30 grams of sugar per serving. Trader Joes makes great juices that are highly concentrated and therefore must be diluted to enjoy, but at least they have a significantly lower sugar content. See "Pomegranate Recipes" for ideas.

Grapes
There are so many varieties of grapes that one should not limit oneself only to wine. Graps have only 60 calories per cup and not only taste great added to just about anything, but they are good for you. Make a fruit salad that includes grapes, chopped apples, pomegranate and cranberries, to include four of my favorite fall foods. Chopped grapes in your favorite salsa gives it a subtlely sweet taste, or add chopped grapes to rice pilaf. My favorite way to enjoy grapes is frozen. Just wash a bunch of grapes, stick them in the freezer for a few hours. It's a healthy and delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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