Enjoy the Fruits (and Veggies) of Autumn

Autumn offers a bounty of healthy produce, so take advantage of the flavors and nutritional benefits of the season.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests fall fruits and veggies:

• Pumpkin, which is rich in vitamin A and fiber. Add it to muffins, bread and other baked goods.
• Nitrate-rich beets, steamed, roasted or left raw and chopped, peeled and tossed in a salad.
• Fiber-, vitamin A- and vitamin C-rich sweet baked potatoes.
• Low-calorie, gluten-free pasta with spaghetti squash. Roast it and scrape out the noodle-like flesh.
• Nutrient-rich kale, added to soup, or chopped and added to salad.
• Cooked parsnips, which are rich in manganese, fiber, vitamin C and folate. Add them to soup or make a mashed potato alternative.
• Fiber-rich pears, nutritious okra or antioxidant-rich cranberries.