From the season to your plate: how to make every day in September a good idea
3 September 2026
September is one of those months when everything comes together. Summer isn’t quite over yet, whilst the first days of autumn are already upon us. You can see this reflected in the fruit and vegetables too. There’s plenty to choose from, and there are plenty of times during the day to make something tasty with them. From fruit with your breakfast to extra vegetables at lunch and a warming dish in the evening: with a few simple habits, you can make sure fruit and vegetables feature in your diet every day.
Start the day with fruit
Getting your daily dose of fruit and veg doesn’t have to be complicated. Why not start at breakfast, for example? An apple is handy for when you’re on the go, but you can of course also add fruit to yoghurt, quark or porridge.
Make lunch a vegetable-filled meal
If you mainly think of vegetables at dinner time, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. You can easily eat extra vegetables at lunch too.
Why not try the broccoli salad with goat’s cheese and kasha balls and turmeric dressing? It combines broccoli, apple, avocado and rocket with goat’s cheese, chickpeas and a spicy dressing. The recipe contains 235 grams of vegetables and 68 grams of fruit per person. A great way to include plenty of fruit and vegetables on the menu right in the middle of the day.
Short on time? Then keep it simple. Top your sandwich generously with vegetables, take some raw veg with you, or turn leftover vegetables from the night before into a salad. That way, you’ll naturally fit in an extra serving of veg.
Snacks count too
There’s also room for fruit and veg between meals. September is the perfect time for a piece of fruit as a snack. But why not try snack vegetables or raw veg too? A handy tip: make it easy on yourself. Wash or chop fruit and veg whilst you’re in the kitchen anyway, and set aside a portion for later. If it’s within easy reach, it’s much more likely to end up on your plate or in your bag.
Got any vegetables left over? First, see what you can make with them before they disappear to the back of the fridge. Leftovers can easily form the basis of a soup, salad, omelette or lunch the next day.
Evenings are getting a bit warmer again
In September, the days can still feel wonderfully late-summery, but in the evenings you’ll increasingly notice that autumn is drawing nearer. And with that comes a growing desire for something warm on the table. Think of roasted vegetables, a steaming soup or a hearty meal packed with seasonal vegetables.
Beetroot, for example, goes down a treat with these. Roast them in the oven for a warm meal or combine them with other seasonal vegetables. And if it’s still one of those mild late-summer evenings? Then beetroot is just as delicious in a fresh beetroot salad with rocket and goat’s cheese or as beetroot carpaccio with goat’s cheese.
This way, your evening meal naturally adapts to September: as fresh as possible, or nice and warm as soon as the evening calls for it.
Mark your calendars now: National Fruit and Vegetable Day
And September is the perfect time to look ahead. On Thursday 8 October 2026, we’ll be celebrating National Fruit and Vegetable Day. On this day, which takes place during Our Food Week, we’ll be putting fruit and vegetables in the spotlight.
Until then, you can start practising: try to include an extra fruit or vegetable moment somewhere in your day every day. Try a new recipe, choose a product you’d normally walk past, or whip up something tasty with whatever’s left in your fridge. Because fruit and veg aren’t just a good idea on National Fruit and Veg Day – they’re a good idea every day.