For me, the fall is always a time for taking stock and letting go. I take some time to reflect on what has happened in the past year and try to make room for new ideas to emerge. Because of this, my eating patterns also change, funnily enough. I start getting ready for winter, which means bring on the powerfoods! This summer I ate so much fruit. Every morning I made a fruit smoothie in my blender, I ate a watermelon salad every other day and my superfood ice cake featured prominently on the menu.

But that pattern has disappeared now. I’ve had enough of all the fruit sugar. I’m going to focus on the new season. Buying seasonal products is second nature to me, as I find it so important to be aware of what nature has to offer us at different times of year. Seasonal products are not only cheaper and better for the environment, incorporating them into your diet means that you’ll necessarily see more variation in the foods you eat. Squash is now in season and endive and beets are back and widely available.

So I’ve decided it’s time for me to experiment with beets. Why? Because they are nutritious and full of essential vitamins and minerals, they keep your metabolism functioning optimally and have a positive effect on your kidneys. What’s more, they also cleanse and detoxify the body. In other words, beets are the perfect food for the season of taking stock and letting go.

You can use them raw in smoothies or juices and cooked beets are a delicious addition to a salad. Below is my recipe for a delicious beet salad. I’m heading into winter relaxed and healthy. How about you?