As November creeps in, this time of year can seem grey, wet and dreary before the brightness of the snow arrives. It is a wonderful month, however, for cocooning, cozying up inside. It’s also a great time to stock your freezer with many budget-friendly and delicious meals inspired by fall ingredients that are plentiful and affordable this time of year.
High grocery bills can be tough for a family, but eating what is in season helps to stretch every dollar. This time of year, the harvest is plentiful and is surprisingly cost-efficient. Here are some of the best budget-friendly fruits and vegetables to buy in the fall:
| Apples | Pears |
| Beets | Brussel Sprouts |
| Carrots | Onions |
| Dark leafy greens | Cauliflower |
| Potatoes | Winter squash |
These fruits and vegetables lend fabulously to fall favourites such as soups, casseroles, chilis, roasted vegetables, stuffed/baked squash, muffins, loaves, and more. Just adding a pear or apple into a soup can give it a tasty twist. This is also a wonderful time of year to preserve or cook in large batches and freeze ready-to-go meals. So, put on an apron and start cooking! Why not involve the kids too? Being part of the process of making healthy meals helps inspire them to learn good nutritional habits.
Combine fall recipes with family fun and games
Here are a few links to some fun fall recipes that I am looking forward to trying with my family:
- Budget autumn recipes from BBC Good Food.
- 7 Best Budget-friendly fruits and vegetables to buy in the fall, an article with some fantastic recipe ideas.
- Fall recipes from Budget Bytes.
While your soup is on the stove and your casserole is in the oven, your little ones will go wild if you sit down and play a game with them. What better activity when it is grey outside? For young children, good games to start with are things like Memory, trying to find matches for turned-over cards, and Go Fish, a simple and fun card game. UNO and Trouble can also be interesting once they start to get their numbers.
Not sure where to get a hold of great family games? Check out one of the great toy-lending libraries in the city: the Ludothèque Sainte-Foy at Bibliothèque Monique-Corriveau, La Joujouthèque Basse-Ville at Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy and the Ludothèque de Lévis.
Wishing you and your family a cozy November.
Warm regards,
Jessica