13 Best Fall Superfoods for Weight Loss

Check out this list of fall superfoods for weight loss so you know what to turn to when you want a satisfying dish featuring new flavors, with few calories and plenty of nutrients.

Autumn fruit and roots veggies background. Healthy, garden local produce. Rustic dark style. Horseradish, leeks, beetroot, parsley roots, celery plants, apple, pear.

What is a superfood anyway?

Fruits and vegetables are protective to health as they’re helpful at reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. They’re also low in calories, which helps prevent obesity,” says Isabel Maples, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

While the term “superfood” doesn’t have an exact definition, Maples says dietitians would say it means nutrient-packed—and lots of fall produce fits that description. You could also count these foods as functional, she says, meaning there’s science behind the fact that they’re better for your body, offering vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. “In addition, if the food you eat is flavorful and satisfying, there is a good chance you will eat less and consume fewer calories, too,” she adds. And that’s the key to dropping pounds.

Check out this list of fall superfoods for weight loss so you know what to turn to when you want a satisfying dish featuring new flavors, with few calories and plenty of nutrients.

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Group of apples on the wooden background. Viewed from above.

Apples

This fall fruit staple gets a good rep for a reason: it contains copious amounts of fiber, the nutrient that keeps you full and helps with healthy digestion. You also get antioxidants and a compound called quercetin that fights cancer cells, says Maples.

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Pears

“For starters, pears are an excellent source of fiber; just one contains one-quarter of our daily fiber needs,” says Maples. Also, people who eat anthocyanin-rich foods, like pears, have a lower risk of developing diabetes, according to a Harvard study of nearly 200,000 men and women. Check the neck of a pear to pick a ripe one—you’ll know it’s good if it has just a little pressure, Maples says.

sweet-poatoes
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Sweet potatoes

A good source of vitamin A and iron, sweet potatoes also fight inflammation that can lead to chronic disease. Maples says to eat the skin to maximize your fiber intake. Eat them (skin and all) after roasting and adding to a salad, grain bowl, or as a side.

30 Ways to Get More Fiber in Your Diet Without Even Trying

bowl of pumpkin soup with ingredients for cooking, top view

Pumpkin

Of course, you’ll see pumpkin everything come fall, but make sure you’re getting the real thing—pumpkin spice products not included. The fresh produce itself is where you’ll find filling fiber, plus beta-carotene. Try pumpkins roasted, puréed, canned or fresh. You can add a little cinnamon for sweetness, or curry powder if you prefer your squash savory.

11 Nutritionist-Approved Pumpkin Puree Recipes for Fall

parsnip bunch on wood top view

Parsnips

“Carrot’s cousin, only white and a little sweeter,” says Maples. In just one serving of this crunchy root veggie, you get four grams of fiber, plus vitamin C and copper. Reach for it when you need a snappy snack.

Macro close up on a pile of freshly harvested beet roots, in shades of orange and purple, making a background
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Beets

We’re talking about the entire veggie, from the root (roast it) to the green leaves (sauté them). The nitrates that naturally occur in beets can lower blood pressure and help you recover from a workout so you can sweat it out again the next day, says Maples. You might see runners sipping beet juice after chasing many miles, as one study found it can stave off exhaustion.

9 Health Benefits of Beets (and Risks) You Never Knew About

Citrus fruit pattern. Background with seeds of fresh pomegranate fruit

Pomegranate

This juicy fruit is high in polyphenols that protect cells from free radicals, while also offering folate and vitamin C. Studies show the seeds or arils can help control blood pressure and offer better muscle recovery post-workout.

Fresh cauliflower on wooden table

Cauliflower

Packed with lots of fiber and few calories, make this your pick when you want to shed pounds. In one cup of florets, you get 100% of your vitamin C for the day too, as well as vitamins A and B6, and potassium, says Maples.

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Fresh brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts

“Brussels sprouts are proud members of the cabbage family. They are rich in antioxidants that help fight cancer and they provide fiber and a wealth of vitamins including vitamin C to help boost immunity, plus vitamin K to help promote bone health and blood clotting,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com, author of Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You from Label to Table. She suggests making them extra satisfying by roasting them with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

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Ripe northern lingonberry in a wooden bowl on a background with twigs and leaves. Top View

Cranberries

Cut back on the sugar added to dried cranberries by going for the fresh version (in season in the fall), and adding them to your salads or oatmeal. Fresh cranberries contain a compound called proanthocyanidin, which prevents harmful bacteria from clinging to the bladder wall and causing infection, says Maples.

Raw Organic Yellow Spaghetti Squash on a Background

Spaghetti squash

“These days with so many people looking to cut carbs, spaghetti squash is a perfect choice for providing that pasta-like feel with fewer carbs and lots of nutrients,” says Taub-Dix. With each serving, you get fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and vitamin B6 and it contains just 42 calories per cup.

6 Delicious Pasta Alternatives That Won’t Make You Miss Refined Carbs

White roasted, salted pumpkin seeds on black marble like working board, overhead shot

Pumpkin seeds

After you use your pumpkin, save the seeds, also known as pepitas. Toast them up in the oven and eat as a snack or a topping for your salad, soup, or oatmeal. You’ll get a valuable source of fiber, phosphorous, manganese and iron, says Taub-Dix.

Butter turnips, rutabagas (Brassica napus subsp. Rapifera)

Rutabaga

A cross between turnips and cabbage, Maples says these offer a delicious earthy flavor, especially when roasted or pureed in a soup. Like other root veggies, rutabaga leaves you with that satisfied feeling because of their hearty taste and fiber-rich nutrition profile. These aren’t the only superfoods that are best in the fall. If you’re not a fan of these foods, there’s still plenty for you to eat!

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Originally Published on Reader's Digest