In Autumn, it's easy to fall into a slump of gorging on pumpkin pie and overstuffing yourself during the Thanksgiving break - and with Christmastime being right around the corner as well, there's no telling how far down that hole one could go. The cold weather inspires us to eat heavier, more comforting foods and, while that's not always a bad thing, it's hard to stop once you've started. With these five easy, healthy meals for fall, you'll be able to maintain a healthy weight (maybe even lose some!) and focus on bettering your health overall.
1. Harvest chicken and sweet potato salad
This healthy arrangement of sweet vs savory serves well for a filling, delicious meal that can be made in under 30 minutes! It provides a perfect blend of spices as well, so as not to be bland and boring.
2. Burrito bowls
This is a fairly versatile meal to make - as you would at Chipotle or Qdoba, you can start with a base of rice or quinoa. Add in plenty of veggies, seasoned chicken or ground turkey, as well as toppings like guacamole or cilantro, and you've made yourself a simple, warm, fulfilling meal - chances are, it'll be way healthier than any restaurant has to offer.
3. Sweet potato turkey chili
It wouldn't be fall without a nice hearty chili recipe circulating around - and with sweet potatoes in season, and it being turkey time, this sweet potato turkey chili is perfect! Adjust the spice level to your liking and have at it! Will also store well in the fridge or freezer.
4. Spaghetti squash
Yet another versatile and easy meal. Poke holes all around it, pop it in the microwave for five minutes at a time, and wait until soft to the touch. Be careful, it'll be hot! Scrape it all out and you've got yourself a healthy, low-carb version of spaghetti! Use with meat sauce, pesto, alfredo, or any other variation of sauce.
5. Harvest vegetable soup
This recipe is chock full of veggies and warm deliciousness - not to mention it's only 228 calories per serving. If this can't warm you up on a fall day, you might need to start browsing through winter recipes.
There you have it - a salad, Mexican inspired dish, chili, spaghetti substitute, and a soup dish all made for fall weather! Get cooking and enjoy!