Fiber-Rich, In-Season, Local Produce
Autumn is here, and along with the cooler weather comes a totally different variety of local produce. Gone are the berries, rhubarb, and melon (spring and summer fiber-rich superstars!), but here comes a brand-new plethora of delicious, fiber-rich substitutes.
The following list contains 10 local, seasonal, fall fruits and veggies that are super high in fiber:
Fall Fiber-Rich Fruit
- Apples: traditional fall fruit with 4.4 grams of dietary fiber per medium apple.
- Pears: ripe at the same time as apples, with 5.5 grams per medium pear.
- Pumpkin: pumpkin contains .5 grams per 100 grams.
- Figs: these suckers contain roughly 5 grams of fiber per 4 fresh figs.
- Cranberries: they’re super rich in antioxidants and contain 2 grams of fiber per half cup of raw, fresh cranberries.
Fall Fiber-Rich Vegetables
- Winter Squash: 1.5 grams of fiber per 100 grams of squash.
- Parsnips: They babies boast 4.9 grams of dietary fiber per 100 grams of parsnips!
- Turnips: 1.8 grams of fiber per 100 grams of turnips.
- Sweet Potatoes: These yummy gems contain 3 grams of fiber per 100 grams of sweet potatoes.
- Yams: Even higher than sweet potatoes, yams contain 4.1 grams of fiber per 100 grams.
Taking advantage of local and in-season produce also equals other health advantages. Local produce spends less time in transit (than, say, pineapple), and because it’s in-season, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and all the other good things are at their peak.
And you can taste the difference! When carrots are in-season, they’re sweet and earthy as opposed to relatively tasteless. You’ve probably noticed the difference in taste when it comes to certain foods at different times of the year, right?
Also, from a digestive health perspective, the fiber-rich foods that are cultivated each fall are so good for your gut. Our bodies crave fresh, in-season, fiber-rich foods!