(NC) Fall and winter provide an abundance of fresh, seasonal produce that offer delicious flavours and textures. From mid-week family favourite meals to holiday feasts and indoor entertaining inspiration, here are three ways to elevate your meals, incorporate seasonal ingredients and champion sustainability with every bite.
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Source seasonal selections
As the cool weather approaches, so does the need for warm, hearty dishes like soups and stews. Fall is the perfect time for hearty squashes, pumpkins and sweet root vegetables. Check out a seasonal food guide online for veggies available in your area to help you plan your next trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market. Consider also choosing proteins from companies that incorporate eco-friendly initiatives, like Maple Leaf Foods, as another way to shop sustainably.
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Family fun at the farm
Plan a day trip to a local farm with loved ones and bond over well-loved fall activities like apple picking and scouring the pumpkin patch. Use your fresh farm finds to bake a fall dessert like a pie or cobbler. You can even add apples or squash to a seasonal salad to elevate the dish.
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Harvest a fresh bounty
Make harvesting from your garden a family affair. Join the Maple Leaf Foods and Earth Rangers’ “Grow Your Own Greens” Challenge and create an indoor garden. Have kids and family members help choose the herbs and veggies they’d like to plant and save your scraps in a DIY composter to make nutrient-rich soil. Soil health is paramount to preserving the future of food, on a small scale, like composting at home or larger, like farmers who practice regenerative agriculture. Check out Earth Rangers’ app to learn more about sustainable farming and why saving your seeds and scraps is a good thing.
