The summer is winding down and autumn is approaching, so according to common opinion, we should all be eating greasy and hearty foods to fight the incoming cold.
What about fruit and vegetables?
The World Health Organization recommends the daily consumption of 5 servings of fruit and vegetables (2 of vegetables and 3 of fruit) to stay healthy.
This rule applies in all months of the year, not only in summer when there is the greatest availability of fresh fruit and vegetables.
It is important to consume mainly seasonal fruit, for various reasons: first of all, because you can take advantage of local productions, with a reduced and controlled supply chain, without having to resort to imports of goods that require days and days of travel. The wallet also makes money, as off-season vegetables and fruit usually cost a lot more and pollute due to transport from other countries.
In autumn the varieties of fresh fruit available are reduced and the choice tends to “shrink” to apples, pears, grapes, persimmons, figs, pomegranates and citrus fruits because we tend to associate other fruits, such as melon, with the season summer and it is thought that they are no longer available, or must be imported from distant countries.
For melons this is no longer the case!
Today this fruit, rich in vitamin A and antioxidants, is available until December thanks to the Azienda Agricola Lorenzini Naturamica of Sermide, coming from Italian crops located both in the Po Valley and in Sicily.
Modern agricultural research has managed to create multi-seasonal varieties that are also grown for the autumn months, so no longer just the white pulp winter melon, but also the red pulp King’s Red melon, rich in precious Lycopene, or the Unique melon with orange pulp, unsurpassably sweet.
Of course, the cooler season requires different combinations than the summer ones and higher tasting temperatures, but luckily there are many recipes that allow you to savour the delicious taste of melon even in autumn.
You can prepare hot first courses using shellfish or ham combined with melon:
Or tasty main courses based on meat and fish:
And of course, desserts at will!
Melon is not only a tasty fruit, but also contains numerous nutrients allied to the well-being of the organism and its few calories make it ideal for maintaining your figure.
Don’t lose your good summer habits… keep eating melon even in the fall!
