The October Effect

Every season has its rhythm, and for me, October is one of the most challenging times of year when it comes to health and wellness.

Summer spoils us with abundance - juicy watermelons, sweet mangoes, and perfectly ripe peaches. By the time October’s chill sets in, that bounty starts to fade. Watermelons shrink in size, skyrocket in price, and become a gamble and never a guarantee in terms of quality and taste. Mangoes are long gone, and peaches turn starchy.

I turn to bananas merely to fill the caloric void, but they get boring quickly. Apples and pears are fine, but they’ve never been my favorites. Fall does offer some gems - crisp citrus, rich pomegranates, and the occasional sweet honeydew or cantaloupe - but I’ve never found the same consistency in fall fruits that summer delivers.

The one bright spot? Greens. Kale, bok choy, collard greens, sprouts, katuk, and red leaf lettuce thrive when the temperatures cool. Growing my own greens each fall is one of my greatest joys. The flavor, freshness, and texture of homegrown produce are unmatched, and each year it motivates me to grow even more.

Beyond Food: Fitness in Fall

More than just a shift in seasons, fall is a period of transition that reshapes our routines and increases demands at work and home. This flux brings a powerful emotional current, which can either leave us feeling fired up and optimistic or worried and run down.

The struggle is not confined to the plate. Fitness motivation can dip, too. The “summer body” buzz wears off, and it’s easy to slip into complacency. That’s why I encourage starting early on your “new year’s resolution.” Don’t wait until January. Begin now, and by the time the calendar flips, you’ll already have momentum on your side. Instead of joining the massive herd, scrambling for change at the gym in January, you’ll be ahead of the curve.