Whether you call it autumn or fall, it might be a season that you look forward to. Many households look ahead to this season for several reasons:

• Parents look forward to kids going back to school.
• Many kids look forward to seeing all their friends again.
• In many places, the heat and humidity of summer start fading.
• Fall can mean beautiful colors in places with the right trees.
• Holidays start coming up, such as Halloween.

One great thing about autumn is that it’s often a harvest season, when lots of produce is readily available at many markets. If you want to enjoy the culinary possibilities of autumn, then consider these top foods to eat when the autumn season is upon you:

BEETS:

A good source of nitrates, beets might help your blood pressure. The entire plant can be eaten. While your grocery store might only have the red ones, your farmer’s market might have more variety.

CRANBERRIES:

Great protection from urinary tract infections, they have compounds that might keep hurtful bacteria from lining your bladder walls. Use them as a snack, a side, or part of a salad.

KALE:

There was a time most people hadn’t heard of kale, but now it’s everywhere. This nutritional powerhouse packs some serious health punch, but it’s also very tasty.

OKRA:

This works in cuisines from the kitchens of New Orleans to the curries of Mumbai. Enjoy vitamins C and K, lots of fiber and folate, and not many calories.

PARSNIPS:

These are close to carrots, and you can eat them raw or cooked. They’re great for folate, vitamin C, and fiber.

PEARS:

You can get these all year long, but they taste the best at their peak. If you want some fiber, eat the peel along with the fruit.

PUMPKIN:

This particular food might just be the culinary symbol of the season. It’s surprisingly healthy, too. It has lots of fiber. The orange color is because of beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH:

Kids love these since they’re like pasta, but they don’t have the calories or gluten that comes with grains.

SWEET POTATO:

These can work at any meal, including breakfast. Count on them for fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C.

As you can see, autumn as a season has plenty you can enjoy.