It is now that most vivid and colorful time of year when all of nature puts on its most spectacular display for us to enjoy.
Autumn marks an important transition in the year when nature contracts inward and begins to shift towards storing and conserving energy, because quick on the heels of Autumn will come the deeper cold of Winter. Our bodies are also making this same important transition and we can make a few simple yet very important changes that will support our health this time of year.
Here are a few simple yet very valuable things to remember as the cool breezes of Autumn become more crisp and cold this month.
Carry a warm scarf with you. It's easy to forget it's October when the day starts bright and sunny. In the calm of morning as we plan our attire for the day don't forget that the afternoon or evening may bring a cold wind on your way home. At the end of the day, when you are more physically and mentally tired, it is even more important to have that extra layer of warmth and protection to conserve energy for the home tasks still to be completed. This is the time of year to keep an extra scarf or jacket in the car.
Keep those toes warm.
No one wants to say good bye to the warm sunny days of summer, or the fun sandals and light slip on shoes we have played in for the last few months. But do not let all the warm colors of Autumn or the sunny mornings fool you, it will be much colder in the evenings when you ask your feet to quickly carry you through those end of day errands on your way home long after the sun and it's warmth have said good night. Keeping those toes warm is essential to our body being able to properly store and conserve energy during the colder seasons.
Finish your day with warm nourishing food.
This is the perfect time of year to get out the crock pot and let it do the heavy lifting for dinner prep. Load it up with all your favorite fall flavors and have the lovely smell of supper already done great you when you open the door after your long day away. Soups are an excellent way to rehydrate, warm, and nourish your during the Autumn months. This is especially important as the winds of Autumn can be very drying to every aspect of our physiology whether we realize it or not. One of my Autumn favorites is making sweet potatoes in the crockpot. It's the most delightful "set it and forget it" thing to make in the crockpot in my humble opinion. I promise you you will love these! The sweet potatoes come out so creamy and perfectly moist and tasty.
Sweet Potatoes in the Slow Cooker:
• Rinse/scrub the outside of your sweet potatoes. I like to scrub them because I like to eat the skin. • Don’t dry them – put them right in your slow cooker. This is the only liquid you needed. Just what is on them after rinsing! They will produce a little bit of liquid during the cooking process.
• Set to low and cook for 6-7 hours depending on how big your sweet potatoes are. I would recommend cooking 4 at a time. They will produce a little bit of liquid during the cooking process.
Don't forget to take a moment to enjoy this season and all it's color, so keep your camera handy and capture the beauty of Autumn this October.