Take advantage of the fall harvest season to up your intake of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. For example, here in Maryland in September, farmers are harvesting fruits including apples, cantaloupe, grapes, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries and watermelon; and vegetables including beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, greens, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, squash, tomatoes, turnips and zucchini.
"Supermarkets are increasingly featuring local produce, and the number of U.S. farmers’ markets has skyrocketed in recent years," says Roni Neff, PhD, MS, director of research and policy at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.
You can find a farmers' markets in your area here. If you are outside the U.S., check your area resources. And for a list of great vegetarian and seasonal recipes with which to enjoy this bounty, check out the Meatless Monday Campaign's website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent's Fruits and Veggies Matter personalized web tool provides recommendations for minimum daily fruit and vegetable intake.
Every Monday, the Johns Hopkins Healthy Monday Project, part of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, offers tips for preventing disease and injury, and maintaining health lifestyle. Check back each week for new tips or visit our archive.
