October is, without a doubt, the best month out of all 12 of them. The weather is pure perfection because I greatly appreciate a slight chill. Even just looking outside of my window right now is picturesque. I mean seriously—is it a life-size painting or my front yard? I could be biased because I’m such a Halloween fanatic, but it truly is the best 31 days of the year. If the cozy-up weather, fall foliage, and ghosts, ghouls, and goblins haven’t convinced you that nothing beats October, let the produce do the talkin’.
When your grocery shopping is based upon what’s in season, you’ll be choosing the most cost-effective, healthiest, and freshest produce money can buy. Oh, it’s also the cool thing to do (I know you’ve seen those seasonal menus at trendy restaurants). Get out your pen and notepad, folks; in order to complete (and elevate) your shopping list, it is pertinent that these 5 fruits and veggies are on there.
- Apples: Surprised? Me neither. Once you visit a local apple orchard, the possibilities are endless—apple sauce, apples with dip (caramel, almond butter, etc.), apple pie, or simply on their own. You get the idea. There are so many apple varieties. If you have the chance, try out some new ones! There’s no reason not to; they’re delicious and nutritious.
- Grapes: Everyone loves grapes. Adding them to your grocery list should be no problem, considering they tend to be kid-approved. Grapes are a wonderful, healthy snack (like potato chips, you can’t eat just one). You can even try freezing them for a frosty treat. We’ve all had fruit salads starring grapes, but they’re amazing in green salads too.
- Kale: The somewhat newfound popularity of kale doesn’t seem to be going anywhere (sorry, spinach). Add it to smoothies for an even healthier twist, roast it with olive oil and salt for a chip substitute, or turn into a hearty, robust fall salad. You won’t regret hoppin’ on this bandwagon!
- Pomegranates: To some people, this red fruit may still be a mystery. If you’re unfamiliar with the fruit, harvesting the edible seeds can pose a challenge. However, once you’ve got it under control, you’ll be happily delighted to enjoy the juicy bursts of tart, sweet flavor. I’d recommend adding them to salads, in place of croutons. Just remember to be careful because the radiant red juice can stain your clothing (and hands temporarily).
- Pumpkins: Like apples, this one is another no-brainer. Drop the latte, and grab yourself an actual pumpkin. You can puree your own to make pie, cookies, bread, muffins, waffles, pancakes, or whatever else your little heart desires. If you’re looking for a new, savory preparation, roast it. Actually, roasted pumpkin, along with apples, grapes, kale, and pomegranate, sounds like fall in a bowl. For something more substantial than a salad, add it to pasta. Another option is Thai pumpkin curry—it’s excellent. If you’re feeling an Asian-inspired dinner, make that.
