As Autumn Comes
With autumn just a few short weeks away, I thought it might be time to talk about how we will change our cooking to reflect the changes that will be on us before we know it.
Coming off an incredibly hot summer, thanks to our changing climate, summer eating has had to be light and fresh in order for us to survive the heat. With hot weather comes dehydration, so eating to hold onto moisture is key. We ate watermelon, light soups, lightly cooked greens, tofu and some salads (keeping the cyclospora outbreak in our minds).
But now, even though the days remain warm, we can sense it: the change in the air. There’s a freshness that was missing, smothered by the humidity. The nights feel just a touch crisper; the mornings cooler.
So how do we navigate our way through the season change? If you remember, last winter was brutally cold and snowy, so eating hearty foods was essential to staying warm.
But during autumn, we face the challenge of erratic weather. Some days are warm and sunny, as though summer might never end and suddenly, we are faced with a morning that is crisp and cold, like a slap in the face. It wakes us up to the idea that summer won’t last forever.
Autumn is coming and with it changes in how we eat so we can manage the cooler days and nights.
Personally, I love autumn. I love the cool mornings; the first crisp apples; the broccoli and cauliflower; the first winter squash that seems to call to me.
Peaches and berries lose their appeal and I can only picture baked apples, apple pies, spice cakes, roasted vegetables, stews, hearty soups and salads made with cooked and raw ingredients to help us transition to the cold days ahead.
I love those first cool days when I race to the kitchen, turn on the oven, and begin cooking in ways that will warm us for cool weather. The house fills with the perfumes of fall cooking, making the world a more delicious place.
These ten simple tips, ideas, and recipes will help you transition smoothly from summer to fall with your health intact.
1) Eat as though the season may never end…until it does.
As summer wanes, this simple recipe will help you hang on to the last vestiges of the season (tomatoes) while also aiding your body in making the transition to fall (escarole).
2) The Body Scrub
The end of summer means our golden, sun-kissed glow will fade as fast as we can say “the end of summer,” leaving us with dry skin that is not so well adjusted to the cooler weather. And if you have tanned, the damage is done but this simple scrub, done daily, will result in moist, supple (albeit paler) skin that will stay nourished right through the cold days to come.
3) Clean Your House!
As the weather turns cold and we begin to close the windows to ward off the winter chill, take the time to ensure your home is clean, orderly, and fresh. Remember, it’s about to be closed up tight for months to ward off the cold. Skip the commercial cleaners that leave behind a chemical haze, and clean your home with products that are kind to people and the planet while still cleaning as well as any chemical you can buy.
Oh, and if you haven’t used it, lose it. Get rid of clutter and avoid accumulation by going through your stuff and weeding out what you do not need or use. Recycle where you can; donate items in good condition to those who might make use of them.
4) Kale Power!
As hearty dark leafy greens come into season, they are at their most tender, sweetly flavored, and oh so yummy. Incorporating them into your daily eating will make you big and strong as they provide us with most of the vitamins, minerals (and fiber) we need to nourish our vitality.
5) Go Outside and Play!
It’s not too cold to get out and play in the warm sunshine and cool, crisp air of autumn. Done right, your active life can stay outdoors all year long!
Layer, baby! Layer clothing so you are warm — but not too warm — and can shed layers as needed to stay comfortable as you bike, hike, run or play sports in the fresh air.
Stay Hydrated. Even though you may not be sweating like you do in the summer, staying hydrated helps you retain body heat. So drink water as needed… and eat chia to help your body hold on to moisture as you exert effort.
Cover Your Fingers and Toes. Keeping your extremities warm will help the body retain heat, so wear gloves, warm socks, and shoes to keep your tootsies toasty. Also, wear a hat on really chilly days since we lose so much body heat through the top of the head.
Wear Sunscreen. I know, I know… summer is over, so what’s up with this tip? Even with clouds, overcast days, and less intense rays in general, you still need to protect your skin from damaging rays so you look as vibrant as you feel. Get a natural sunscreen without yucky chemicals that doesn’t clog your pores.
6) Eat with the Season. Enjoying foods in season not only ensures the most delicious flavors for your dishes, but also helps your body adjust to the cooler weather as well. Autumn fruits and veggies are heartier with less moisture so you stay warm when it’s cold outside.
With lots of variety to choose from, you are guaranteed a most delicious autumn! And you can get lots of yummy recipes at christinacooks.com to whet your appetite! Fall brings us some wonderful fruits and vegetables, from winter squash to apples and pears; carrots, turnips and rutabaga; Brussels sprouts, Belgian endive; cauliflower and brocoli; grapes, figs, kohlrabi and so much more.
Get to a farm market and anjoy the bounty of the season.
7) Eat Your Greens!
You thought I was done with my greens lecture with the kale tip, right? As I always say, you can never eat too many of these nutritional powerhouses. Essential to vascular and heart health, dark leafy greens are also delicious ways to get the calcium we need for strong bones, the chlorophyll we need to produce healthy red blood cells, and other vitamins and minerals essential to creating a strong body. Dark leafy greens are also great for digestion because they are loaded with fiber!
Yes, there’s more to life than kale. Try this recipe, for example.
Apple-Braised Greens
Mixing more bitter-tasting greens with good olive oil and a bit of fruit makes them so yummy your loved ones will never complain about eating their veggies again. And the benefits of the apple cider vinegar for digestion make this dish just perfect.
Makes 3-4 servings
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 ripe, but firm apples, thinly sliced, do not peel
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper
1 bunch dark leafy greens, like collards, kale, bok choy, mustard greens, broccoli rabe, escarole, etc., rinsed well and cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Place oil, garlic, and apples in a deep skillet over medium heat. When the apples begin to sizzle, add a pinch of salt and pepper and sauté for 1-2 minutes, just until the apples begin to wilt. Stir in the greens, a light seasoning of salt, and cook, stirring just until the greens turn a deep green and wilt, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and gently stir in vinegar. Serve immediately.
8) Make Soup!
We eat soup all year round in my house. But as the days cool, it becomes more important than ever. Soup helps us to retain precious body heat in cold weather. But that’s not all. The warm liquid carries the nutrients from the veggies efficiently through the body so you feel vital and energized… and cozy.
Try this easy and delicious recipe to get started.
9) Sleep!
Bears hibernate all winter long. And while I am not proposing that, I think that sleep is under-rated. As the chaos of life takes over and the glorious fun of the holiday season approaches (sooner than you think), make a commitment to yourself to sleep enough. Proper sleep ensures that we are at our best throughout our days. In these challenging times, no one can afford to be anything less than their best.
Six to eight hours of good sleep, consistently will change the way you move through your days. You will be more alert, have more focus, will manage day to day stress with more grace. You will also have a moist, supple, lustrous complexion.
Don’t snooze and you will lose!
10) Bake Cookies!
As the weather cools, we seem to have stronger cravings for baked treats. Commercial and even some natural brands can land heavy on our hips and leave us lethargic and addicted to sugar. Beat them at their own game by baking your own cookies that are both healthy for you and delicious. Make a batch and freeze them in portions so you have them when temptations threaten to derail your commitment to health and wellness.
And can you think of a better way to spend a chilly afternoon?
