Eating locally and in season helps ensure your food is at peak freshness and nutritional power. These super-healthy foods are grown in Arizona during the fall and can deliver the especially powerful dose of the vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and fiber you need to power through as the days grow shorter and cooler. Pile these on your plate to keep running at top efficiency!
APPLES
Good for you from the skin to the core, apples are bursting with vitamin C and other antioxidants, flavonoids and an average of 4 grams of fiber. They’re great on their own, in pies or salads and even sandwiches, but be sure to pick ones that are firm and round, without soft spots or bruises.
BROCCOLI
It’s low-calorie and 89% water, but broccoli manages to cram healthy levels of vitamins C and K1, folate, manganese, fiber, potassium, iron and even a little bit of protein and almost every other nutrient you need!
DATES
This desert and tropical fruit grown on date palms provide a healthy dose of natural sweetness that can replace refined sugar if used in moderation.They also have a wealth of nutrients and fiber that can promote bone health, fight inflammation and boost brain activity, among other benefits.
PUMPKIN
Another low-calorie, highly beneficial food, just 100 grams (or 3.5 ounces) contains two and a half times vitamin A’s recommended daily intake. It’s a great source for heart-healthy polyphenols and B-complex vitamins, as well as dietary fiber.
TOMATOES
These tend to vary widely in terms of taste and quality, so grab them while they’re at their peak! They glow red with lycopene, which protects the fruit from UV rays in the ground and can help protect you from heart disease and other chronic illnesses. They also have high levels of vitamins C and A.
TURNIPS
These are lauded for their high fiber content as well as providing more than half the vitamin C you should eat per day, and don’t forget the greens since they’re loaded with calcium. You can eat them raw, roasted, steamed or as part of your favorite fall stew!