As we enter the middle of autumn, the produce departments at local grocers change. Vegetables and fruits are always a healthy addition to your diet plan. Knowing which varieties to select only ensures you are getting the best fruits and vegetables for the season. Fall fruits and vegetables are some of the healthiest of the year. Fall fruits and vegetables are rich in colors and nutrients. Although your location affects what you may be able to find at the store, fall is generally a great time to try new varieties in the produce section.

Here are some of the more popular fall fruits and vegetables:

Avocados
Beans
Brussels Sprouts
Broccoli
Squash
Pumpkin
Collard Greens
Lettuce
Carrots
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Sweet Potatoes

Apples
Bananas
Grapes
Pears
Clementines
Pomegranates
Kiwis
Oranges
Grapefruits

Knowing which fruits and vegetables are in season will ensure you are choosing the best varieties for this time of year. Autumn represents harvest time and there is no better time to bulk up your diet with fall fruits and vegetables.

Packing your day with as many fall fruits and vegetables ensures you are getting many nutrients as well as replacing potentially unhealthy foods you might normally choose. Make a goal of trying one new vegetable or fruit a week and you will be certain to expand your list of approved fall fruits and vegetables. Although you may not enjoy every one that you try, being open to the possibility will encourage healthier habits.

Eat your vegetables! It may have been a while since you heard that piece of age old advice, but it is just as relevant in your adulthood. Many of us grown-ups still retain a resistance to vegetables. Finding new and simple ways to incorporate them in your diet can be a challenge, but one that is worth it for the rewards. The benefits of eating vegetables are two-fold. First, you are filling your body with vitamins and minerals not always available in other foods. Also, if you are filling up on veggies, you are less likely to fill up on empty calories. Knowing which vitamins and nutrients are in vegetables and what they do for your health, can help you reconsider your rocky relationship.Vitamin A: Found in asparagus, broccoli, carrots, peas, and kale, vitamin A helps promote healthy skin and eyesight and aids in bone growth and tooth development.
 
Thiamine (Vitamin B1): B1 is great for your heart, and other muscles. It also helps your body convert carbs into energy. B1 is found in avocados and peas.

Niacin (Vitamin B3): Aids in converting food into energy and helps keep your digestive system healthy. You can get good levels of B3 in artichokes, broccoli, peas, green peppers, mushrooms, potatos, carrots, and peas.

Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that helps you body absorb iron and encourages a healthy immune system, Vitamin C is found in vegetable like tomatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes, kale, squash, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli.

Vitamin D: Found in mushrooms, Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and magnesium.

Vitamin K: Vitamin K helps your body absorb proteins and regulate calcium in the blood. Vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, kale, and spinach are good sources of this important vitamin.

True, you can pop a pill and get your vitamins in one easy second. While a multivitamin is easier than eating your vegetables, vegetable consumption can aid in weight loss and a healthy lifestyle unlike a multivitamin can. By slowly increasing your daily vegetable servings you can decrease high calorie substitutions while giving your body the vitamins it needs to function properly.