Our Healthy Fall Favorites: Top Lunch Recipes

Our Healthy Fall Favorites: Top Lunch Recipes

Summer is full of bright colors and summer fruits often get all the praise. From bright mangoes to ripe red strawberries, summer is one of the most colorful seasons. That being said, we'd argue that fall may even be more colorful. While fall colors aren't as bright, they're just as plentiful. Burnt orange pumpkins and deep red apples overtake the produce section. Next to them lie green grapes, yellow squash and purple eggplant. Fall is chock-full of tasty, colorful produce just waiting to be eaten. When it comes to eating healthy in the fall, choosing the right recipe is one of the biggest challenges. The battle of sweet and savory foods shines this season and dessert tables are just as packed as the lunch table. To help stay on track with a healthy diet, make sure that you have an assortment of healthy fall meals to choose from. The food experts here at Bob's Red Mill have put together a list of our favorite healthy fall recipes that will make a nutritious lunchtime a no-brainer.

Healthy Fall Tips

Before diving into the healthy fall recipes we've prepared for you, first review these simple tips to eating your best this season. From staying local to incorporating plenty of whole grains, these guidelines will help you make the most of your classic fall meals.

Eat Local

When it comes to eating healthy, try your best to purchase local produce when possible. Apples, cranberries, pears and savory vegetables like sweet potatoes and squash are all in-season and can often be bought locally. Eating local will give you access to healthy fall foods that haven't been shipped around the world before arriving at the grocery store. Shopping locally may also introduce you to new fruits and vegetables that you haven't tried before. Now's the time to step outside of your comfort zone and discover what could become your new favorite food.

Eat Seasonally

Take time to enjoy the seasonal flavors. Fruits and vegetables that are in season are often much more fresh and flavorful. Incorporate foods like squash into your pre-loved recipes to create a fun spin on classics. Additionally, in-season fall herbs and spices like cinnamon, pumpkin spice, ginger and cardamom are all great for you! They'll work to add flavor to your dish while also boosting its health benefits.

Incorporate Whole Grains

Our Healthy Fall Favorites: Top Lunch Recipes | Bob's Red Mill Blog Flour-filled meals often become the start during fall. Pumpkin pies, casseroles and baked bread cover the food tables and it can be hard to stick to a healthy diet. When making your favorite grain-based dishes, try to stick to whole grains like brown rice, bulgur, whole wheat flour and barley.

Enjoy Everything in Moderation

Lastly, don't limit yourself too much! While it's essential to choose healthy options when possible, it's also important to indulge now and then. Fall desserts are meant to be enjoyed! If you're craving a sweet slice of pumpkin pie or sweet cider, have some! Just be sure to enjoy these sweets in moderation.

Favorite Fall Lunch Recipes

Now that you know a few tips and tricks to eat healthy during fall, it's time to get to the good part, the recipes! From stuffed peppers to savory tarts, this list is jam-packed with seasonal food that is sure to make this fall the best one yet. Let's get started!

Squash and Mushroom Barley Risotto

Remember that thing we said about incorporating more whole grains into your diet? Now's your chance. Barley risotto is the perfect meal to cozy up to this fall. An extremely healthy grain, barley, is loaded with vitamins and minerals essential to your health. It can also help with digestion, something that comes in handy during the fall season after indulging in sweet treats. For the perfect risotto to serve up during the holidays, surprise everyone at the table with this Squash and Mushroom Barley Risotto. Full of seasonal veggies and herbs, this creamy and earthy risotto is a healthy main that will leave you full and satisfied. It's made with oyster mushrooms, shallots, squash and garlicthe perfect combination of fall ingredients. In this recipe, pearl barley replaces traditional arborio rice for a more mild, nutty-flavored dish.

Mediterranean Farro Stuffed Peppers

Our Healthy Fall Favorites: Top Lunch Recipes | Bob's Red Mill Blog Want to spruce your fall menu up with something colorful? Add bell peppers to the mix. Red, orange, yellow and green bell peppers are loaded with health benefits. A low calorie food, they're a great source of vitamins A and C. They also contain a healthy dose of potassium, folate and fiber. Because these peppers are large, they can easily be stuffed with savory ingredients like veggies and grains when hollowed out. For a lunch that's guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, whip up these Mediterranean Farro Stuffed Peppers. A great use of leftover farro, the blend of nutty and tangy flavors makes this the perfect light lunch to eat as is, or pair alongside a simple green salad.

Paleo Squash Galette

For those of you following a paleo diet, fall is your new best friend. This season is overflowing with paleo ingredients full of lean meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. If you're searching for new ways to combine your favorite ingredients into a healthy meal, then we have the perfect recipe for you. This Paleo Squash Galette is a healthy and paleo-friendly lunch that can be customized to your taste preferences. Made with in-season produce like butternut squash and leeks, it's the perfect recipe to serve at your next mid-day gathering. Or, if you're making this galette for yourself, freeze the leftovers to enjoy throughout the week. Though this recipe uses fall ingredients, the veggies in it can be swapped with whatever is in season, making this meal one that you can make year-round!

Heirloom Tomato Tarte Tatin

Our Healthy Fall Favorites: Top Lunch Recipes | Bob's Red Mill Blog Tomatoes are one of our favorite fall ingredients to cook with. A versatile fruit, they can be worked into both sweet and savory recipes. Just as nutritious as they are delicious, tomatoes are jam-packed with antioxidants and a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K. Adding this healthy fruit to your fall lunches will create good-for-you meals that are overflowing with flavor. Don't believe us? Try out this Heirloom Tomato Tarte Tatin Recipe. Savory, vegan and delicious, it's the perfect option for a light meal. A rustic way to enjoy this fall fruit, our Whole Wheat Flour is used to boost this meal's nutrition even more.

Eggplant Tart with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Eggplant is one of the few purple vegetables you'll find at the grocery store. But despite its unique coloring, it's not as popular as other seasonal produce items. This is mainly because most individuals don't know how to cook it. Loaded with nutritional benefits and packed with a great flavor, once you learn how to use eggplant in the kitchen, there's no turning back. For the ideal eggplant lunch, try out this Eggplant Tart with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese. Moist, flavorful and overflowing with healthy roasted veggies, it's a truly delicious lunch recipe. Made with goat and parmesan cheese, the eggplant's savory flavors combined with the cheese creates a mouthwatering meal. For the shortcrust, our Unbleached White All-Purpose Flour is used to create the perfect flaky texture.

Savory Butternut Tart

Our Healthy Fall Favorites: Top Lunch Recipes | Bob's Red Mill Blog With the fall season here, the many varieties of squash have begun to line the produce shelves. Fall and winter squash are very different from summer squash, with the most popular fall squash types being butternut squash, pumpkin and acorn squash. Because of their tough outer skin, uncooked squash will keep fresh for a long time. This extended freshness and their great taste make squash a hot commodity among seasonal produce. To create a delicious squash-filled lunch recipe, make this Savory Butternut Tart. The perfect vegetarian dish for a light lunch or as a savory dinner side, it tastes great when combined with thanksgiving leftovers. Made with our Gluten Free Pie Crust Mix, it's a low-allergy lunch that can easily be served to individuals with food allergies. The fall season comes with many changes. Children are heading back to school, the weather is changing and the amount of fresh produce on grocery store shelves is growing. With fall comes a whole array of healthy lunch ingredients that you can turn into extraordinary meals. Whether you want to start eating healthier or simply hope to keep up your healthy habits, this list of healthy fall lunch recipes will help you achieve your goals. Fall is a great time to focus on you and what's a better way to take care of yourself than through the food you choose to eat! From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, have a healthy and happy fall! Know of a healthy fall lunch recipe that we didn't mention? We'd love to hear what you're making this season. Let us know in the comments below!  
Bob's Red Mill
November 27 2020

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