Eat Seasonal Produce for Good Health this Autumn

Seasonal Produce for Good Health

How and what we eat, determines our quality of life. It is from this perspective that we can best approach a healthy, long-term diet that keeps our body functioning well. Eating natural foods is the perfect recipe for a happy and healthy life.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) understands that food is medicine and eating seasonal foods can be therapeutic for the human body and the way it functions.

Seasons + Climate

Autumn and winter reflect contracting atmospheric conditions. Fresh produce grown and picked in these seasons require stronger cooking styles. Summer and spring however, reflect expanding atmospheric conditions, requiring lighter cooking styles.

In essence, eating foods according to the seasons can promote balance in your body allowing for optimal health and may help prevent illness. So, eat warming foods when it is cold, cooling foods when it’s hot, moistening foods when it’s dry and in humid conditions, avoid foods considered to be damp.

Autumn foods

The energy of autumn is inward and drying as we prepare for winter. After spending much of the summer months outdoors – with the cooler days and nights of autumn, we begin to spend more time indoors. Seasonal foods considered to be moistening such as eggplant, asparagus, sweet potato, cauliflower, spinach, fennel, fresh ginger, radish, mustard greens, peanuts, walnuts, pine nuts, apples & pears are perfect to introduce to your diet at this time. Think of hearty, vegetable soups; baked vegies; warm salads and baked or stewed fruits.

As with all things in life, moderation is key. An over-consumption of any one type of food, even if appropriate for the season, can lead to an imbalance in your body. A point to remember, too, is that a variety of colours and foods on your plate at each meal-time can mean you’re getting a greater variety of vitamins, minerals and nutritional value. Not only does your meal look great, taste amazing, but it’s super-good for you!

Enjoy the following recipe which celebrates the beautiful seasonal foods of Autumn – Roasted Cauliflower & Fennel Soup with Crunchy Pine Nuts. It’s quick and easy, full of healthy goodness and tastes delicious!

Roasted Cauliflower &

Fennel Soup with Crunchy Pine Nuts

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
• 2 bulbs of fennel, roughly chopped
• 1 + 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 6 sprigs of fresh thyme + extra to serve
• 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon pine nuts

METHOD

• Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil in pan and cook onion, ginger and garlic until onions are slightly browned.
• Sprinkle salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil onto prepared cauliflower and fennel in baking trays and roast in moderate oven.
• Mix roasted vegies with the aromatics (ie onions, ginger and garlic mixture) in a saucepan.
• Add vegetable broth and fresh thyme, and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Allow to cool slightly and process in blender until smooth consistency.
• Carefully roast pine nuts in non-stick pan.
• To serve, sprinkle pine nuts over soup and garnish with sprigs of thyme.
• The longer the soup cooks, the more developed become the flavours.  And, of course, it always tastes better when cooked with love.

Seasonal Produce for Good Health

References: “Food is Energy: How to Use It” by Geoffrey D. Wilson, 1988