English: Fall in Napa Valley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This Sunday, September 22nd, is the autumn equinox, signaling the official start of fall, and we here at LGBG would like to mark this occasion by discussing ways to put green in your fall season. While many of us lament the passing of spring and summer with warmer temperatures and opportunities for longer days with outdoor activities and parties, as well as easier access to local fresh fruits and vegetables, we must not forget that the autumn or harvest season is a wonderful time for the same, often in greater abundance. We do acknowledge that with vacation time over and children back in school, we often have to work a little harder to live green, but the opportunities to do so are present in the fall.
Perhaps the first and most important step to have a green autumn is to view the new season as a time for change and welcome the chance to embrace this period. Here is a list of good and green things about autumn that we hope will interest you.
- The fall is a great time for outdoor activities. With cooler temperatures, walking, running, jogging and biking activities are more enjoyable. Youth football, soccer and field hockey seasons are in full swing, and the children get to hone their skills while getting good exercise. This is a great chance to get in the game– kicking or throwing the ball around with your children is good for the whole family in terms of exercise and time spent together. Also, while children are attending practices, this is a perfect time to go for a walk or run.
- Football also is a huge fall attraction. Hosting a college or NFL football party or celebrating a child’s team with a focus on healthy green fare or simply having a family party where each family member prepares a green dish can be a lot of fun. As a bonus, take your game outside and throw the football during halftime.
- Autumn is an opportune time to enjoy many delicious foods and to experiment with recipes. This is the time of color, and that color transcends to fruits and vegetables, whose nutritional benefits are well documented. Scientific evidence shows that pigmented fruits and vegetables are rich in phytonutrients — compounds that fight off free radicals that cause cancer and that can increase the risk of heart disease and other enemies to the body that cause diabetes, osteoporosis and more. Of particular note is the fall apple harvests and fall festivals celebrating the apple with enjoyable offerings.
- The autumn season provides each of us an opportunity to realign with nature. While we often scramble around enjoying the warmer months, now is the time to slow down, use the cooler evenings as a time to rest, relax, read, meditate and spend time on yourself. Take the time to enjoy the changing leaves. Hiking with family and walking pets can be very relaxing.
Autumn is a very special and beautiful season, dramatically ushered in by that big harvest moon. To embrace this time with its bounty in nutritious food and opportunities for great family fun, as well as the chance for self introspection and renewal, is to live green be green.
Sources:
1. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/seven-food-colors-of-health.html.
2. http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6480/5-Tips-to-Stay-Healthy-in-Autumn.html.
