Eat Orange!

It’s October (finally!). I must admit that fall is my favorite season. With so many seasonal, delicious fruits and vegetables in the super market, it just feels easier to eat healthfully. It just so happens that many of my favorite veggies are the staple color of the fall season--- orange!. While the color palate is fitting for the season, the orange hues actually have health benefits.

Deep orange vegetables like squash, sweet potatoes and yams are packed with vitamins A and C. They’re also great sources of fiber. Vitamin A helps keep our eyes and skin healthy, vitamin C has antioxidant powers, and the fiber helps our bodies reduce our cholesterol levels while reducing risk of heart disease. Let’s take advantage of these orange veggies! Here are some cooking tips for the fall season.

-          Sweet Potato Salad- potato salad is always a staple in my house during football season. Jazz up the norm and use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes.

-          Butternut Squash Pastas- butternut squash blends in perfectly in pasta dishes. Cube the squash and sauté in a little olive oil, or cook directly in a hot saucepan of tomato sauce.

-          Butternut Squash for Dessert- top with sliced granny smiths and a tiny sprinkle of brown sugar, then bake to sweet, delicious perfection.

-          Sweet Potato Mash- mash hot, cooked sweet potatoes in a tiny bit of orange juice and zest. This is a great twist on the traditional mashed potato side.

-          Sweet Potato Chips- ever tried microwave sweet potato chips? Well you should! They have less fat, are easy to make, and are yummy to boot! Don’t be afraid to vary your seasonings. I like rosemary and a touch of sea salt, but you can make it sweet with cinnamon, or spicy with chili powder. Here's my favorite microwaved potato chip recipe.

Want to try some sweet potato chips for yourself? Join UH Dining Services & Student Housing and Residence Life tonight at 7 pm in the Cougar Village I lobby. We'll be demo-ing and handing out free samples as part of our second episode for the "What's Cooking, Coogs" Cooking Tour!

Don’t forget to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies daily! Enjoy the fall season… Eat Orange!