From Our Inbox To You: 2012 Fall Trends Are Seasonal Ingredients, Bright Colors

Part of writing about food and drink for a living is working with a variety of publicity and media relations firms, which includes fielding hundreds of unsolicited e-mail pitches a week. Many of these firms bring us incredibly thoughtful insight into the activities of their clients. But sometimes we get the occasional mail that makes us laugh a bit — before we hit delete. Let us indulge you with one such case:

From: REDACTED

To: "editorial@foodrepublic.com"

Date: Tue, Oct 2, 2012 at 11:31 AM

Subject: What's In What's Out: Fall Trends for Foodies

What's In:

Bite Size Treats: Meatballs, burgers, mac and cheese and more, everything seems to come in bite-size these days encouraging more variety. This trend is also perfect for parties at home, allowing guests to enjoy your cooking without getting it all over their face!

What's Out:

Large portions: Whether in a restaurant or cooking at home, smaller is better. Studies also show that more meals in smaller portions are better-for-you.

What's In:

Seasonal ingredients: Think apples, apples, apples this month. Apple pie, apple, walnut and blue cheese salad, and apple cinnamon cocktails!

What's Out:

Importing your produce. If you can't pick it, don't eat it. With so many great options, creating interesting meals with seasonal products from your local grocery store is easier than ever. If you're not sure what's in-season, ask your local grocery store or print out a calendar.

What's In:

Greens: Kale, escarole, spinach, arugula. Whether sautéed with garlic and lemon, raw in a salad, or thrown into a bowl of pasta, green is a color that has taken over not just runways but menus as well and we couldn't be happier. Healthy and delicious, this is a trend we really support.

What's Out:

Bland colors are unflattering on the skin tone in more ways than one. Put the same thought into the color of your food as you do with your clothing. Studies show that brightly colored foods have more nutrients. Blue/Purple are high in antioxidants and heart healthy; green fruits and vegetables induce enzymes in the liver that assist the body in removing potentially carcinogenic compounds, and yellow/green are beneficial for eye health. The brighter and richer the color, chances are, the better it is for you and the better you'll look!

So, to review. Big in 2012: Kale, small portions, apples and apple cinnamon cocktails, bite-sized burgers.