{"id":93284,"date":"2025-10-22T01:41:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T01:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/93284\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T01:41:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T01:41:19","slug":"6-fruits-and-vegetables-worth-adding-to-your-plate-this-fall-hartford-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/93284\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Fruits and Vegetables Worth Adding to Your Plate This Fall | Hartford Hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

<< Back<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

October 21, 2025<\/p>\n

Pumpkin spice isn\u2019t the only thing that\u2019s in season. The cooler months bring a bounty of fruits and vegetables that can add color, flavor and nutrients to your meals.<\/p>\n

The trick is knowing how to bring them into your kitchen in ways that feel simple \u2014 and delicious.<\/p>\n

Ulysses Wu, MD<\/a>, with Hartford HealthCare<\/a> shares six of the healthiest fall produce plus easy ways to add them to your plate.<\/p>\n

1. Apples<\/p>\n

They\u2019re classic, crisp and seemingly everywhere this time of year. Apples are one of the easiest \u2013 and cheapest \u2013 seasonal foods you can get.<\/p>\n

\u201cApples are rich in fiber and antioxidants, which can help support heart health and digestion,\u201d says Dr. Wu. \u201cAnd because they\u2019re naturally sweet, they make a great substitute for less healthy snacks or desserts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slice them into salads, roast them alongside chicken, grill them, or bake them with cinnamon for a simple, healthy treat.<\/p>\n

> Related: The 8 Best Fruits for Your Health<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Squash<\/p>\n

From butternut to acorn, squash is the definition of fall comfort food \u2014 and a staple of fall produce..<\/p>\n

\u201cWinter squash varieties are packed with vitamins A and C, plus fiber,\u201d says Dr. Wu. \u201cAnd they\u2019re filling, so you won\u2019t be tempted to overeat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Try roasting cubes with olive oil, pureeing into soups or stuffing acorn squash with quinoa and vegetables for a complete meal. Or, use spaghetti squash for a delicious alternative to pasta.<\/p>\n

> Related: Here\u2019s Why You Should Add More Squash to Your Diet\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Brussels sprouts<\/p>\n

Few vegetables capture the taste of fall quite like roasted Brussels sprouts \u2014 warm, caramelized, and full of flavor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen roasted, Brussels sprouts caramelize beautifully, which brings out their natural sweetness,\u201d Dr. Wu says. \u201cThey\u2019re also high in vitamin K, which is important for bone health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pair them with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, use them as a substitute for cabbage in coleslaw or toss them with cranberries and walnuts for a seasonal side dish.<\/p>\n

> Related: The 8 Best Vegetables for Your Health\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Sweet potatoes<\/p>\n

These root vegetables are as versatile as they are nutritious.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweet potatoes provide complex carbs, fiber and beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A,\u201d says Dr. Wu. \u201cThey\u2019re a great alternative to regular potatoes when you want something a little more nutrient-packed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bake, mash, roast or even cube them into breakfast hash \u2014 you can\u2019t go wrong.<\/p>\n

5. Pears<\/p>\n

With everyone busy picking apples, it can be easy to forget about pears this season. But they\u2019re worth adding to your shopping cart.<\/p>\n

\u201cPears are a great source of fiber and vitamin C, and they have a soft, juicy texture that makes them easy to enjoy raw,\u201d says Dr. Wu.<\/p>\n

Slice them over oatmeal, grill and toss them into green salads or roast them for an elegant dessert.<\/p>\n

> Related: 6 Reasons to Eat More Pears<\/a><\/p>\n

6. Pumpkins<\/p>\n

Pumpkins aren\u2019t just for carving \u2013 fresh pumpkin is a nutritional powerhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cPumpkin is low in calories but rich in antioxidants and fiber,\u201d says Dr. Wu. \u201cUsing real pumpkin instead of processed pumpkin flavoring can add nutrition while keeping meals seasonal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Add pumpkin to smoothies, stir it into chili or bake with pumpkin puree for a little extra flavor.<\/p>\n

> Related: 5 Reasons to Eat More Pumpkin<\/a><\/p>\n

The real benefit of fall produce<\/p>\n

Fall produce isn\u2019t just about flavor \u2014 it\u2019s about nutrition, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cEating with the seasons is one of the simplest ways to add variety and nutrients to your diet,\u201d says Dr. Wu. \u201cIt\u2019s affordable, it tastes better, and it gives your body what it needs at the right time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<< Back October 21, 2025 Pumpkin spice isn\u2019t the only thing that\u2019s in season. The cooler months bring…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":93285,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[134,524,111,139,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-93284","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-medication","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-newzealand","12":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}