As fall approaches, so does the fanfare for fall foods. But what exactly is a ‘fall food’ in the first place? According to several Green Level students, it means anything pumpkin, apple, maple, cinnamon, or salted caramel flavored. As a way to best evaluate what foods you should look out for this fall, I will be going over some of the most appraised fall foods among Green Level high school students.

First, with a refreshing start, are the most popular fall drinks. Each year, coffee shops and cafes generally will seasonally introduce new fall flavors. From a survey I conducted, several students’ favorite fall drinks were from Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or a local cafe. However, the most popular answer was the Starbucks iced pumpkin cream chai latte. One 11th grader, Avery Parker, explained the drink as “the best tasting drink that puts you in the fall mood.” Some more appraised foods were Dunkin Donuts’ hot chocolate, McDonalds’ iced caramel latte, and apple cider from any grocery store.

Next, students were surveyed on their favorite fall desserts and where they purchased them. Overall, Trader Joe’s came out on top as the most popular place to grab any fall snacks or desserts. Each year, around fall, Trader Joe’s releases a wide array of fall items and the rave is well-deserved. Some of the Trader Joe’s items students mentioned as their favorite were pumpkin Joe Joe creme cookies, the pumpkin bread mix, and the apple cider donuts. However, supermarket foods came in second as most popular. Several students recommended supermarkets’ apple pies, apple fritters, pumpkin pies, and pumpkin spice donuts. 

Lastly, students were asked about their favorite savory fall foods. However, savory fall foods are often overshadowed by the sweets. Because of that, the only food that several students could think of was turkey, but there are actually several other savory fall foods to choose from and try out for yourself! For example, some popular fall savory foods from Trader Joes include: pumpkin flavored pasta sauce, pumpkin bagels, butternut squash mac & cheese, and their pumpkin cream cheese spread. However, there are also several recipes that you can try making at home. Morgan Lanuti, a 10th grader recommended baking pumpkin seeds, a traditional fall snack her family makes each year. Morgan explained that “it is a good bonding experience and is a great alternative to just throwing out pumpkin seeds from carving pumpkins.”

All in all, there are tons of delicious fall foods to choose from this season. The most highly recommended places to visit this season are Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, Dunkin Donuts, small business cafes, and even any other supermarket. Not only that, but there are several recipes online to make your very own fall foods. So, get creative, go out, and get some exclusive fall foods and drinks before the winter season begins!