Seasonal Meal Plans – What’s Fresh This Month?

Eating seasonally is not just about enjoying the freshest ingredients; it also promotes sustainable practices and supports local farmers. Each month brings new produce to the forefront, allowing you to explore diverse flavors and textures while optimizing your health. This month, let’s look at what’s fresh and how to create delicious seasonal meal plans in Dubai featuring these ingredients.

Fruits in season:

October is a fantastic month for fruits, particularly apples, pears, and pomegranates. Apples are versatile and can be used in sweet and savoury dishes alike. Start your day with warm apple cinnamon oatmeal topped with chopped nuts. For lunch, try a pear and gorgonzola salad drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette, providing a lovely balance of sweetness and tang. For a delightful dessert, pomegranate seeds can elevate a simple yogurt parfait or add crunch and color to a fruit salad.

Vegetables in season:

As autumn rolls in, hearty vegetables like squash, pumpkins, and root vegetables become available. Butternut squash can be roasted with a drizzle of olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper, making a perfect side dish. A warming pumpkin soup is ideal for chilly evenings and can be made creamy with the addition of coconut milk. Beets are also in season and can be roasted and tossed with arugula, feta, and walnuts for a vibrant and nutritious salad.

Weekly meal plan ideas:

Breakfast options:

• Apple cinnamon oatmeal: Cook oats with diced apples and sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Pumpkin smoothie: Blend pumpkin puree, banana, almond milk, and a scoop of protein powder for a nutritious start.

Lunch options:

• Butternut squash salad: Mix roasted butternut squash, quinoa, cranberries, and feta for a filling meal.
• Vegetable soup: Prepare a hearty soup with seasonal vegetables like carrots, celery, and kale, simmered in vegetable broth.

Dinner options:

• Stuffed acorn squash: Halve acorn squash and fill with a mixture of quinoa, cranberries, nuts, and spices, then roast until tender.
• Pomegranate-glazed chicken: Cook chicken breasts in a pomegranate reduction and serve with roasted Brussels sprouts.

Snacks and sides:

Incorporate seasonal snacks into your diet to keep things fresh and exciting. Try roasted pumpkin seeds for a crunchy treat or bake apple chips for a healthy snack option. Carrot sticks with hummus are perfect for a quick, nutrient-rich bite.