What are our best fruit and vegetables for Autumn?

As Autumn becomes colder our fresh fruit and vegetables change and so does the way we cook them.  Eating fresh, seasonal autumn fruit and vegetables is a great way to build optimal immune defence and nourish your body as we head towards winter and those warm and nurturing winter soups.

What’s fresh and in season now?

Here is a list of what is fresh in April:

Fruit

What a delightful fruit bowl of vitamins and good nutrition these make...

Apples	Avocados	Bananas	Custard apples
Fuji fruit	Guava	Kiwifruit	Limes
Mandarins	Nashi	Pears	Passionfruit
Persimmons	Pomegranates	Quinces	Tamarillo

Vegetables

It is always a good time to 'add a vegetable' to your dinner plate...

Asian greens	Beans	Broccoli	Brussels sprouts
Cabbages	Capsicums	Cauliflower	Chokos
Eschallots	Fennels	Leeks	Mushrooms
Okra	Chestnuts	Potatoes	Pumpkins
Silverbeet	Spinach	Turnips

 

What are the benefits of including fruit and vegetables in your daily menu?

• Vegetables are abundant in vitamins, minerals, fibre and water.
• Vegetables can be prepared quickly
• Vegetables can be eaten raw or take very little time to cook
• They are the best protection against diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer
• Some vegetables are better being cooked and the best way is to steam them so they retain their vitamins, minerals and enzymes
• Extra flavour can be added by sautéing in coconut oil, olive oil or butter. (Water, fresh stock, tamari, verjuice of vinegar can be used as a lighter option)
• Good quality, fresh dressings on salads aid in the digestion of raw vegetables
• Vegetables are low in fats and calories (except for starchy vegetables)
• Fresh fruit and vegetables provide much needed fibre to our diets
• Most fruit and vegetables are cleansing and alkalizing for your body, improving digestion
• Fruit and vegetables are natural anti-oxidants
• Fruit is a good source of phytochemicals that protect your cells
• Fruit and vegetables have low sodium levels
• Fruit and vegetables are mostly cholesterol free
• Fruits have little or no preparation time
• Ensure you are getting the freshest and best quality produce

One of your best resources for information on Seasonal Fruit and Vegetables with delicious serving suggestions is Sydney Markets, the Smart Fruit & Veg Cook Autumn. Mr Vitamins Naturopath, Janne Ramsay is passionate about re-educating people on selecting and buying seasonally fresh fruit and vegetables and rediscovering their taste…. Learn more about Naturopath Janne Ramsay here...