Happy Friday! Today I’m linking up for Friday Five 2.0 with Rachel from Running on Happy and Lacey and Meranda from Fairytales and Fitness.
Before getting started, I just want to give a shoutout to Rachel as she is running the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday – I will be cheering for you virtually!!
Today’s topic is all about our favorite fall foods. Fall is my absolute favorite season, even if it’s taking a while to get here this year. It feels like summer just won’t quit, but we have had a few cool days lately so I’m optimistic that Fall is on it’s way 🙂 Another reason I love Fall is because of the foods – fruits and vegetables, comfort foods and hot beverages are at the top of my list. Here are just a few of my favorites.
Oatmeal
I’ll admit that I am kind of boring when it comes to oatmeal – I like just plain steel cut oats, but I always top it with fruit. My favorite combo? Steel cut oats + chunks of green apples + cinnamon. It’s like a healthier version of Apples & Cinnamon oatmeal from Quaker. I usually eat oatmeal every morning during the Fall/Winter. IT’s a hearty breakfast that keeps me full until lunch.
Apples
I eat apple year-round, but I love all the different varieties of apples that are available during the Fall. I can easily eat one, sometimes two, apples per day. An apple with peanut butter makes a great pre-workout snack as well. Also, it’s super fun to go apple picking in the Fall as well!
Cranberries
Cranberries are so versatile! I love adding them to smoothies to add a little tartness. A few years ago I started making cranberry sauce from scratch and it’s SO much better than the canned stuff! Bonus: They freeze well too!
Soup
What’s more comforting than a hot bowl of soup? I was never a huge soup person but I’ve found myself enjoying it more and more throughout the years, especially when it’s cold outside. It’s also great to warm you up after a run outside. My favorite are tomato, miso and chicken noodle, but I’m looking to expand my palette – do you have any favorite soups?
Pumpkin
Over the past 2 years I’ve been pulled into the pumpkin vortex. I enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte a few times throughout the season. Although I prefer sweet potato pie over pumpkin pie, that doesn’t mean I’ll say no to a great pumpkin muffin, piece of pumpkin cake or pumpkin pancakes. I also love adding pumpkin spice creamer to my hot chocolate since I don’t drink coffee. Yup, I’m all about that pumpkin life!
What are your favorite Fall foods? Are you enjoying the cooler weather (finally)?!
Fairytales and Fitness says
I do enjoy the Autumn squash soup from Panera. You should try that!
Have a great weekend!
kookyrunner says
That sounds yummy! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
You know what I love in fall? Macaroni and cheese. Pot roast. Spaghetti and meatballs. Stuff like that. Foods that make me feel all cozy inside!
kookyrunner says
Yes, yes and yes to everything you listed, especially macaroni and cheese!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says
I have been loving apples lately so good! We just started our soup club back up so I am looking forward to cooking up some more goodness
kookyrunner says
A soup club sounds cool! I hope you’ll share any soup recipes with us on your blog 🙂
MCM Mama says
I love apples, but I never seem to eat them LOL. Soup is my favorite though. We eat a ton of different soups each winter. I often make soup on Sunday and my husband and I eat it all week.
kookyrunner says
Making soup is such a great idea for meal prepping so I will be open to trying a bunch of new ones. That’s great that you make a big pot of soup every weekend!
Megan @ Meg Go Run says
Well if chili counts as soup, I would say experiment with those recipes. 🙂 I started making white chicken chili this fall and I am loving it. Someone at my school cooks apple cinnamon oatmeal in the teacher’s lounge every morning so when I go in to put my lunch in the fridge, it smells divine!
kookyrunner says
I’ve never had chili – I know, it sounds crazy!
Apple cinnamon oatmeal is SO good!!
Marcia says
I love winter squash! Acorn, butternut, its all so good roasted or in soup or with chili over it. Never thought to put pumpkin creamer in hot chocolate. Brilliant!
kookyrunner says
I love squash too! Sometimes when I make hot chocolate with water, adding the creamer makes it a little thicker and creamier!
Shathiso says
My 3-year old would love staying with you around fall/ winter — he LOVES oatmeal and if he had any say over the matter, he would have it throughout the year for breakfast, lunch and supper! LOL! I love cranberries but have never tried making the sauce from scratch! Will have to give that a shot!
kookyrunner says
LOL, he sounds like a very smart kid 🙂 Making cranberry sauce from scratch is super easy – you just need the cranberries, a little sugar and juice from one orange. It’s delicious!
Lesley says
I love apples! I bought a couple packets of the Justin’s maple almond butter, and I want to try that out with the honey crisps I have at home. I loved fall in New England with everything apple.
kookyrunner says
Ohh I will have to try that justin’s maple almond butter – sounds so good!!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
Totally with you on apples & soup. I do overnight oats with apples — it’s quite healthy (of course I do overnight oats with chocolate, too, not as healthy . . .).
Chili, curries, love some warming foods!
kookyrunner says
Nothing wrong with overnight oats with chocolate 🙂
Cyndi says
Love butternut squash (roasted) and pumpkin and apples! Honey crisp apples are so good this time of year. My favorite soups are vegetable and lentil…..vegetarian chili is good too!
Have a great weekend
kookyrunner says
Thanks for the suggestions on the soups and chili – I’ll have to try them out!
Rachel says
You are the sweetest! Thank you!!!! I need all the cheers and positive vibes I can get. ?
I love fall foods! Mmm apples and soup!
kookyrunner says
You’re welcome – so excited for you to tackle MCM!
vicki says
Yes – apples! I just saw honey crisp apples at the store – love those! I’m looking forward to big pots of chili!
kookyrunner says
Me too! My favorite are granny smith apple, but honey crisp is a close second!
Andrea Signor says
This post could also be called “Five reasons why fall is the best season.” Absolutely love this time of year. 🙂
kookyrunner says
Definitely! I really do love everything about this season!
Kimberly Hatting says
I also love apples year-round. I think of them more as a staple than an indulgence. My favorite soup is white chicken chili….oh, it’s so yummy, especially on a cold day 😉
kookyrunner says
That white chicken chili sounds yummy!
Stephanie says
I love apples! They are definitely one of my favorite fall foods!
kookyrunner says
Same here!
Farrah says
Summer is my favorite season but fall foods are where it’s at! <3!! I love the things you listed (and hooray for crockpot weather!)!
kookyrunner says
Crockpot weather is the best!!
San says
I guess, i am boring too when it comes to oatmeal, but steel cut oats with apples and cinnamon ist just simply the best fall/winter breakfast. Sometimes I substitute with some rasberries, but rarely! 🙂
I also love apples (by themselves) and give me ALL THE SOUP!
kookyrunner says
I’m a huge apple fan and I’m planning to go apple picking either this week or next week – I can’t wait!
Sandra D Laflamme says
Yum! I love cranberries and cannot wait for Thanksgiving for all things cranberry.
kookyrunner says
Me too! I don’t eat turkey, so I love all the sides for Thanksgiving.