Just because you’re eating healthy that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on this season’s popular dishes. There are so many recipes that can work just the way they are or can be tweaked slightly to become healthier versions. Butternut Squash Soup is a classic that just needs a few adjustments. You can use olive oil and soymilk instead of butter, and vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. Be sure to include onion, celery, carrot and even a green apple for their added benefits and more flavor.
Apples are an easy go-to snack this season, and you can mix it up by making Homemade Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips. Simply cut any flavor of apple into thin slices and sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon. Bake them in the oven until crisp and enjoy!
Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins and minerals, and baking them to make Sweet Potato Fries is a fun, seasonal treat. Just peel and cut them into strips, toss them with a little bit of oil and seasoning, then put them on a sheet with parchment to bake.
Keep it simple with Pear-Ginger Applesauce. All it takes is fresh ginger, lemon juice, apples and pears. It’s a sweet and tangy dish packed with immune boosting power from the ginger, fiber from the pears, antioxidants from the apples, vitamin C from the lemon juice and much, much more.
Another fall vegetable brimming with health benefits is the Brussels sprout. They support cardiovascular health, detox and digestion, and even have anti-cancer benefits. Be careful not to overcook them, otherwise they will give off an unpleasant sulfur smell. Cut each sprout into quarters and let them sit out for at least 5 minutes, then steam them for 5 minutes.
Last but not least, get in on the pumpkin spice craze with a Pumpkin Spice Smoothie. Just blend pumpkin, banana, almond milk, vanilla protein powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and ground ginger until smooth – it’s that simple!
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY
469 7th Ave New York City, NY