6 Fun Fall Activities the Whole Family Will Love

Fall is the perfect season to have some fun with the family. It’s cooler outside, the leaves are starting to turn and it’s a beautiful time to experience mother nature. In a way, autumn also represents getting back to a routine. Fall activities are a great way to get the family together to connect during this busy time of the year.

Communication with your family is vital throughout your weight loss journey. Don’t just tell them what you can’t eat. Tell them how you’re feeling, how you’re changing and how that “spaghetti” they ate (and loved) for dinner was really spaghetti squash and it’s healthier for them too. Then, tell them it’s time to get moving! We’ve put together a list of some ways that you can get active and enjoy some fall fun with the family.

Here are five fun fall activities for the family:

1. Go Pumpkin Picking

When autumn arrives, local farms start to fill up with big, round, orange pumpkins. Families everywhere flock to the pumpkin patch to pick their favorite pumpkins, snap cute family pictures and experience some family bonding. While you’re searching for your favorite pumpkin and lugging it back to the car, know that you’re getting tons of exercise. Walking, bending, lifting and even carrying your kid will certainly help you burn some calories. When you get home, the family bonding can continue with creating spooky jack-o-lanterns. If you can’t find pumpkins in your area, apples, figs, grapes, lemons, chestnuts, pomegranates and pears are other fall favorites you can harvest yourself. While you’re at the farm, look for other fall produce like okra, beans and peppers. Don’t forget to also wander around a corn maze or sunflower field for a while!

2. Roast Pumpkin Seeds

After you picked some pumpkins at the patch to make jack-o-lanterns, be sure to keep the seeds for roasting. Food Network suggests rinsing the seeds and drying them out by roasting them on an oiled baking sheet for 30 minutes at 300 degrees F. Then bake for 40 more minutes with or without spices like cumin, garlic, smoked paprika or cinnamon. According to Healthline, pumpkin seeds are a rich source of magnesium, potassium, calcium and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Dare we say the seeds are the best part of the pumpkin? Learn more about the benefits of seeds here >

3. Play Ball

Instead of sitting and watching your kids play, organize a neighborhood flag football, wiffleball or kickball game and get in on the fun. Bond with the family and create some everlasting memories. Everyone gets a turn and gets some much-needed exercise. Autumn weather is perfect for getting active outside. After the game, snack on those roasted pumpkin seeds or another healthy, family-friendly treat.

4. Get Outside

You can find stunning fall foliage in virtually every state in the country. Plan a weekend road trip when the colors seem to be reaching their peak. Get out of the car and go for a hike or mountain-bike ride to the top of that lookout, mountain or waterfall. You could also find a farm that offers horseback rides and go on a trail ride.

5. Clean Up

While it’s normally not on a list of fun fall activities, raking those fall leaves can offer some pretty sweet rewards. Create the perfect pile for your kids to jump in, make a scarecrow or do some fun fall crafts. Other landscaping activities like moving rocks, hauling dirt, planting trees or splitting wood for the fireplace will keep you moving and burn some calories. Many plants and flowers that bloom in the spring should also be planted in the fall so the roots have time to establish before winter. Make yard work fun by giving your little ones their very own tools: kid-sized shovels, rakes, gloves and boots.

6. Bake Some Healthy Treats

In our humble opinion, grilling season is never really over. However, fall arriving rekindles our love-love relationship with the oven. Get the family together to bake some healthy meals and snacks that everyone will enjoy. Whip up some Baked Sweet Potato Fries as an appetizer. Bake a healthy oven-baked dinner like Cauliflower Crust Margherita Pizza. For dessert, make our Lightened-Up Lemon Cake or Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies. The kitchen brings the family together and truly is the heart of the home.