Falling for Fall: Your Guide to Seasonal Living
Above all things pumpkin-spiced, sweater weather, and colorful leaves, fall gives us an opportunity to slow down and reset our intentions for the rest of the year. Whether you enjoy the change of each season or dread the transition, we are reminded of how our bodies benefit from living in tune with nature and its cycles.
Breakdown of Seasonal Living
Before technology and spending more time indoors, humans lived seasonally for thousands of years. Living within earth’s natural rhythms shows us how each season is unique and prompts us to rekindle our relationship with the earth.
With my expertise in nutrition and my whole-body approach to health, I feel strongly about the ways nature impacts and correlates with our ability to live well and optimally. Seasonal living holds the key to paying deeper attention to the world around us, ourselves, and serves as a guide to living a more intentional and meaningful life.
Autumn
Summer has its own sweetness: social events, filled calendars, commitments, parties, festivities, and plans–while autumn is more grounded, intentional, and allows us to turn our focus inward. Fall holds the opportunity to be present and slow down the pace of life (cue the sigh of relief, right?) Just as the trees lose leaves to conserve energy, we too can focus our energies to what matters most.
Although the topic of daylight savings is followed by an immediate groan by most, we are able to dedicate more space and time to invest in ourselves after the sun sets. This could be in the form of beginning new hobbies: journaling, walking, creating new recipes, reading, diving into adjusting health goals, and anything you enjoy doing and brings inspiration to your life. It is the perfect time to check in with yourself, pursue different interests, and lean into your ambitions to stay grounded in your goals as the busy holiday season quickly approaches.
Eating Seasonally in Autumn
The snack-style summer foods are out and hearty root vegetables are in. Our bodies benefit immensely from eating seasonally. Fruits and vegetables that ripen naturally and eaten close to harvest have the most abundant amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and overall more nutrient-dense.
When it comes to cooler temperatures, the foods that correlate with fall harvest contain higher amounts of anti-inflammatory and immune-fighting nutrients to stave off the winter colds, flus, and other illnesses.
Here is a general list of fall produce:
Apples
Beets
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cranberries
Kale
Peas
Pumpkin
Spinach
Sweet potatoes and yams
Turnips
Winter squashes
When you choose to eat seasonally, it not only allows you to live more in tune with your mind, body, and nature, but it helps support local farmers in your community.
I’ve joined a local CSA (community supported agriculture) to get fresh and local produce and goods from the farm right to my door. Check out my earlier blog post on CSA’s.