Bounty of Fall Provides Simple, Healthy Joys

Cooler temperatures that encourage outdoor activities, beautiful fall foliage and seasonal fruits and vegetables make fall one of my family's favorite seasons. With a little imagination, common activities can become bonding experiences for your family and can also improve overall health and well-being while teaching young children to take care of themselves and the earth.

Though your children may be involved in organized sports, they need regular, unstructured physical activity to teach them that exercise is a fun part of their daily lives, no matter the season. While the temperatures allow, invest in your family's health by enjoying a few of these activities:

• Take a 30 minute walk each evening. This is my advice to every family; get a little wacky and you’ll get your heart going by trying different “modes of movement:” skipping, hopping, walking, running or side shuffling. The neighbors may wonder, but you’ll be too busy smiling and laughing to notice.
• Make fall yard clean-up a fun family activity. By dividing your yard into manageable sections for each family member (ensuring the size is age-appropriate), the job will be much more enjoyable. On a weekend afternoon, turn this chore into a game with a whistle and timer. Your children will take pride in a job well done!
• Play an outdoor animal game. In your yard or local park, have each family member call out a type of animal they see. For a few minutes, move like the animal with the whole family joining in. Repeat this practice until several different animals have been named. Not only is this good biology practice for your children, but you will feel like a kid again.
• Visit a fall farm stand for apple and pumpkin picking. Use the bounty of the fall harvest to fuel your growing family. Check out this list of fall farm stands and more to find one in your area.

Use this experience as a chance to get adventurous in your kitchen. Try classic yet delicious foods that might not often appear on your table: sweet potato fries, butternut squash soup, baked pumpkin seeds and apple slices drizzled with honey. When partnered with a lean protein from the Hormel® Natural Choice™ line of meats, the flavors combine for a great-tasting meal that provides your family with the fuel it needs.

I believe it is never too early to teach our children how to prepare and enjoy nutritious and delicious food. What better time to enjoy this "lesson" than the bountiful, beautiful autumn season.

In health,
Mary Beth Knight
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