Embracing Joy in Maine's Fall Season - An Intuitive Eating Dietitian's Perspective

Maine Events & BusinessesBody Image & Relationship with FoodSelf-Discovery
Written By Carolyn Milles

The fall season can bring great pleasure as the leaves transition from green to vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows– orchards teem with apples to pick, pumpkin patches to wander, and hay bales to rest your feet. Fairs begin to pop up in town after town, sharing a rich history of agriculture, familiar foods, and grin-worthy rides. Taking in all the joys that the fall season offers in Maine may, however, be challenging for some. As we ease into the more relaxed, cooler months and immerse ourselves in the season's festivities, can we give ourselves more permission to feel joyful, be present in our current bodies, and find the freedom to experience food without guilt or shame?

Every fall, I experience what I affectionately refer to as a "baking itch," which is quite odd for me because I am usually not drawn to cooking or baking otherwise. It must be in the air: windows open in cool 60-degree weather, a fall candle burning, and a Halloween movie playing… but it’s such a fun experience, and it's one of the reasons that autumn is my favorite time of year. I usually stick to fall-flavored baked goods, including pumpkin + chocolate (my personal favorite flavor combination) and apple + cinnamon flavors. I’ve made pumpkin chocolate chip bread, apple cinnamon muffins, apple cider donuts, and apple crisps. - Alison

Feeling Freedom

The fall season brings about a sense of gathering and camaraderie - football games, festivals, agricultural fairs, apple and pumpkin farms, and so on. However, many of these social events can also pose challenges to food and body. How can we let go of overwhelming thoughts and enjoy the season? We can start by allowing ourselves to feel and speak with more compassion and grace. When we hold space for more opportunity while granting ourselves permission to have fun and let go of diet culture’s rigid “rules,” we rediscover and reconnect with our mind, body, and soul. 

Apple Orchards in Maine

Give yourself permission to step onto a fair ride, free of fear that your body is being judged. Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident, regardless of societal beauty standards. Say yes to the apple crisp or cider donut at the orchard if desired, regardless of how you nourished your body that day. 

Permission is about doing more of what your soul wants and less about what your mind thinks it “should.” Let’s pause… What does that mean? How do I know what my soul wants? When we pour into our own cup, we quiet the noise of external influences. By moving away from things we may abstain from on days that our negative self-talk clouds our minds and limits our potential, we find access to a life that is flourishing. Granting yourself permission does not have to be a grand gesture, and there is no rulebook. That is the beauty of living your most authentic, intuitive life - joy is bound to follow. Couldn’t we all use more of that?

Without fail, every year, I am sad to see the end of summer, but fall always brings me so much joy, so usually, that sadness fades pretty quickly as I gain excitement for all that fall brings. The cool, crisp air; yummy warm foods and baked goods; apple orchards and fairs; football games and gatherings; beautiful scenery and leaf peeping… all of these are my favorite things about fall. There really is something in the air during the fall that is different in New England. I love lighting a candle with the windows open and the fresh air coming in while putting a warm meal in the crockpot or baking up something apple or pumpkin-flavored…. It sounds pretty cliche for the fall, but it brings me so much joy! - Lauren

Granting Permission

One of the challenges in granting ourselves more permission can be the initial feeling of guilt or shame. Permission is not something we are accustomed to, is it? It’s common to feel uncomfortable when doing something unfamiliar, especially when that has been labeled as “bad” for so long. Addressing this guilt and understanding its origins allows us to dig deeper and discern whether it serves us or burdens us. Ask yourself: Does this belief still serve me or is it robbing me of joy?

You may have heard negative food talk over the years. Food is not in our best interest when it is unsafe for consumption or we are allergic. Otherwise, we can trust our bodies to decide what and how much feels best each day. When we remove the red tape known as restriction around certain foods, we rediscover the joy of eating and its connection to life. Furthermore, when diet culture no longer has a place at our table, foods can extend beyond a specific season or occasion. Why limit yourself to joy with a particular food only once a year? If you adore apple pie, but it’s March, go ahead. Joy knows no season.

My fall memory is lovingly called "crocks and crisps." This started when my kids were little - a group of neighbors and friends and I would divide ourselves into "crocks" and put slow cooker chili on in the morning and "crisps" - that would prepare fresh apples - peel, dice, slice, and top with crisp to bake off when we arrived back home from a day of apple picking - usually at Ricker Hill Orchards - just far enough away for grown-ups to chat on the way down and for kids to sleep on the way home. We would pick a central house to gather and enjoy the bounty from the "crocks" while the harvest in the "crisps" baked in the oven.  The aromas alone were priceless, and just recalling them makes me warm to the core - fall in New England - does it get any better? ~Janet

Getting Festive

Agricultural Fairs, Festivals, & Events

Whether cozying up at home with a cup of tea on a cool and crisp night or taking part in a Maine event or festival with loved ones, these opportunities for delight expand our life experiences. Instead of merely going through the motions, we can live so much more deeply when we find what brings us pleasure. Finding joy each season looks different for everyone, and that’s the beauty of self-discovery.

What is your favorite fall tradition, and how could it feel more joyful this year?

For me, fall is entirely a sensory experience that fills my heart. From the crisp smell of the outdoors to the taste of an iced pumpkin spiced Dunkin’ beverage, which brings me pure nostalgia from my college days, and the sight of the trees changing, specifically, to the fiery reds and lemon drop yellows. Fall also holds a special piece of my heart, as each year, my family and friends participate in a memorial 5k walk/run in memory of my cousin. Each October, we don our matching shirts and lace or sneakers to set out in the crisp morning air to honor my cousin, a soul truly as beautiful as the fall season and as fiery as the leaves in transition. - Amanda

As we celebrate the joys of fall in Maine, remember that nourishing your body and soul with seasonal foods is a step towards overall wellbeing. If you're looking to enhance your nutritional journey or need guidance on mindful eating this season, our team of experienced dietitians at CV Wellbeing is here to help. Contact us for personalized nutrition counseling tailored to your needs and embrace a healthier, joyful fall season.

 

Written By Amanda Robbins, MS, RDN, LD & Lauren Hebert, MS, RDN, LD, Dietitians at CV Wellbeing

Carolyn Milles
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