Hello, harvest season! Even though the weather gets a little colder, and the days get a little shorter, it doesn’t mean that everything is coming to a close. Early autumn is the best time for countless fabulous fruits and vegetables. While you won’t find the sweet strawberries and cucumbers of summer, fall has its own flavorful flare, with heartier produce tasty enough to keep us eating clean well into sweater weather. If you’re hoping to stay on top of ‘what’s fresh’, here are some great and nutritious flavors to get in on for your next healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Apples

It’s easy to forget that these perfectly portioned fruits have a season, since they are so readily available all year round in your local market, but fall is their prime time! Instead of purchasing a bag of apples from the store, go apple picking at an orchard near you. Apple picking is a fun way to get outdoors with family and friends, and you get to literally see where your food is coming from! And of course, supporting small, local businesses is always in-season.

Sweet Potato

This versatile veggie can quickly become a favorite once you start experimenting with the billion different ways you can cook (with) it! With its harvesting season being late fall, pick up some sweet potatoes at a farmers market nearby to make a casserole for dinner, crispy ‘french fries’ with olive oil and rosemary, or bake it until it caramelizes and gets soft. Sweet potatoes are not only delish, they’re also packed with nutrition! Try this Chocolate Almond Sweet Potato Smoothie recipe asap!

Pomegranate

This amazing fruit only grows in warm climates and is available year round, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its season! Pomegranate should be sweetest and brightest in mid-autumn, and are a fun addition to any salad, smoothie bowl, and even oatmeal. Once cut open, their seeds make a convenient finger food packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Make sure you put away your whites after Labor Day -- and before you crack open a pomegranate! The pigmented juice is notorious for staining. So worth it. Need some pomegranate inspiration? Give these recipes a try: Blueberry Pomegranate Superfood Smoothie Protein Avocado Toast with Pomegranate Seeds

Pumpkin

All hail pumpkin season! By late September, pumpkins are overflowing out of the doors of grocery stores and markets, but so few people actually cook with them! Although jack-o-lanterns are great fun, pick up an extra pie pumpkin or squash to add some fabulous fall flare to dinner. Roast slices of whole pumpkin with a sprinkle of coconut sugar to make a hearty and vitamin-heavy side dish, or add cinnamon to cooked, mashed pumpkin for a great fall casserole. It can even be used to make a healthy dessert! Here are a few of our favorite pumpkin recipes! Pumpkin Overnight Proats Pumpkin Date Fudge Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins Pumpkin Spice Protein Donuts Pumpkin Chai Protein Smoothie   So, who else is ready to eat their way through autumn?