(BPT) - Fall is here and it's time to cozy up with healthier habits! If you're looking to refresh your routine and embrace healthier habits this season, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner shares valuable tips to help you harvest your health this fall.
1. Enjoy seasonal produce
Fall offers a variety of nutrient-rich produce like pumpkins, squash and sweet potatoes, which are great for hearty, immune-boosting meals. These seasonal foods are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber to help support your immune system during flu season. Consider making a trip to your local farmers market or grocery store and stock up on these delicious and healthful ingredients.
2. Recommit to healthful habits
The slower pace of fall offers the perfect opportunity to support your overall well-being. Mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling can help you manage stress and maintain a positive mindset during the seasonal shift. Whether it's starting a gratitude journal or taking a few minutes each day to meditate, setting aside time for yourself can greatly benefit your mental health.
3. Bake healthier fall treats
'Tis the season to enjoy favorite seasonal treats like pumpkin bread and apple cinnamon muffins — but with a healthier twist! This season, try incorporating more nutritious ingredients into your favorite baked goods. Simple swaps like using whole grains, natural sweeteners and nutrient-dense additions such as fortified eggs can make a big difference. Fortified eggs, in particular, are a great source of high-quality, essential vitamins like Vitamin D and Omega-3s, helping to maintain energy levels during cooler days.
4. Maintain energy with exercise
As the weather cools, it may be tempting to cozy up indoors, but staying active is just as important in fall as any other season. Before it gets too cold, take advantage of outdoor activities like hiking, biking and apple picking to enjoy the crisp autumn air while getting in some fun exercise.
When it gets too uncomfortable to exercise outside, take your workouts indoors with a cozy yoga flow, a strength-training circuit or an indoor cycling class to keep your fitness routine fresh and exciting all season long.
5. Test out new protein-rich recipes
Fall is a fantastic time to explore fresh, protein-rich dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients. With protein-rich recipes trending, it's more important than ever to ensure you're getting enough protein for sustained energy this fall.
Experimenting in the kitchen can be both fun and rewarding, especially when you incorporate nutritious ingredients, such as eggs, into your meals to provide the boost your body needs. Eggland's Best eggs, which contain 6 times more Vitamin D and 10 times more Vitamin E compared to ordinary eggs, provide superior nutrition and help to boost your body's immunity and reduce oxidative stress during this transitional time. If you're looking for a delicious, protein-packed recipe to make this fall, try this Shredded Beef and Egg Burrito recipe from Eggland's Best.
This popular burrito from the Mexican state of Chihuahua features meat cooked until it's falling apart, seasoned with a spiced-up chunky tomato base and finished with tender scrambled nutritious Eggland's Best eggs.
Prep time: 20 minutes; Cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Yield: 6
Ingredients
12 Eggland's Best eggs, large
1 pound flank steak
1 white onion, halved and divided (half of it finely chopped)
3 garlic cloves
2 bay leaves
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided or to taste
1-2 fresh jalapeno chiles, stemmed, finely chopped (don't remove seeds)
1 pound ripe tomatoes, cored and finely chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
6 10-inch flour tortillas
Preparation
1. Place meat in large pot along with half the onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover with water up to 2 inches above meat. Bring to a boil over high heat and remove any foam that has risen on top. Cover, reduce heat to medium and simmer about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until meat is thoroughly cooked, soft and easily shreds. Strain and set aside. Once the meat has cooled enough to handle, shred into fine pieces.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add chopped half onion and jalapenos, and cook about 3-4 minutes until wilted. Incorporate tomatoes and one teaspoon salt and cook 8-10 minutes, until completely softened. Add meat, stir and cook a couple more minutes so it all comes together.
3. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, crack eggs. Season with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper and whisk until foamy.
4. Stir beaten eggs into meat mixture and reduce heat to medium low. Scramble gently as eggs cook until desired doneness. Set aside.
5. Thoroughly heat flour tortillas on a preheated comal, griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat. One by one, add generous amount of filling in thick strip to one side of the tortilla. Tuck in the top and bottom, fold and roll into burrito shape. You can also leave untucked and just roll it. Serve hot and eat, or wrap and take it on the go!
Find more tasty recipes at Egglandsbest.com/recipes.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Eggland's Best has partnered with acclaimed chef and TV personality Pati Jinich to launch the "Latin Heritage Celebracion de Huevos" Sweepstakes. Now through October 22, fans can enter daily at EBFamilySweeps.com for a chance to win the Grand Prize of $5,000 to elevate their Latin cooking experience, along with weekly prize packs featuring a signed cookbook from Chef Pati, her favorite salsas from La Costena, EB branded cookware and three-month supply of Eggland's Best eggs!
