10 Ways To Incorporate Apples into Your Eating Plan
Baked Apples
Slice an apple in half (or core out) and add your favorite toppings: oats, honey, dried fruit, nuts, and spices. Then bake until soft. This is perfect for apples that have turned mealy. Salad with Sliced Apples Top your favorite salad greens, such as mixed greens or spinach, with sliced apples, nuts, and a pinch of a strong cheese. Serve with a homemade salad dressing such as balsamic vinaigrette.
Chicken Salad with Apples
Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise as a binder, and throw in some walnuts and apples for extra flavor. If apples aren’t in season where you live, try another fruit like grapes or pineapple!
Apple Salsa
Salsa can go beyond the traditional tomato. Create a fruit salsa with apples as your base. Just add various fruits to a food processor, blend lightly, and serve with cinnamon pita chips or on top of a Mexican black bean dish.
Apple Chips
These are a great alternative to chips. Slice apples very thin on a mandolin. Lightly grease a baking sheet, add a pinch of salt or cinnamon, and bake on 200 F (93 C) for about an hour. Then enjoy a crisp, healthy snack!
Apple Pie
Yes, this is a high calorie treat, but a classic! Make your own crust to avoid trans fat in store-bought pies. You can even make your crust wheat and gluten-free by using an organic quinoa or oat flour. Or, create an apple crumble with a light oat topping. If you want to reduce the sugar content you could try a natural sweetener substitute like Stevia in the raw.
Apple Butter
Think you don’t have time for this yummy spread? Try making this in the crock-pot and let it cook while you go about your daily tasks-- it makes the house smell amazing too!
Apples and Meat
Bake your next meat entrée with sliced apples on top to get a hint of sweetness.
Apple Cider
If you have a juicer, throw some fresh apples and pears through it and simmer juice with some cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg. This makes for a delicious and warm treat on cold winter days.
Quinoa and Apples
Apple’s natural sweetness helps balance this hearty protein-packed grain out. This can serve as a side dish or a main meal as it has a wonderful balance of healthy carbohydrates and plant-based protein.
