A for APPLES!!!
By Peggy Kotsopoulos

Apples are the perfect snack sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.  Bite into a fresh, crisp apple raw, or eat it baked for a warm dessert. And as the saying goes, an apple a day can really keep the doctor away! 

Check out how powerful this fruit really is:

• Fiber:  One apple contains more than 3grams of fiber
  • An apple packs-in both soluble AND insoluble fibers for double the benefits and helps lower risk of heart disease
  • Soluble fiber is like a sponge that lowers the amount of LDL (bad) cholesterol your body makes; and 
  • Insoluble fiber is like a mop that grabs on to any extra bad stuff in your body (like toxins or bad cholesterol) and sweeps it right out of your body!
• Flavonoids: not only do these give apples their bright colour, but they also help prevent heart disease

Other fun ways add apples to your diet:

• Try spreading apple butter over your toast instead of jam
• Grab dried apple rings instead of candy for a sweet treat
• Stir in applesauce to your plain yogurt
• Add chopped apples to your oatmeal or breakfast cereal
• Use apple syrup instead of maple syrup on your pancakes

Useful recipes: Awesome Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Whoever said you couldn’t have a healthy, nutritious snack taste so declicious hasn’t tried this yummie chewie treats!  Here is a healthy, alternative to the store-baught, high-sugar, high-fat cereal bars or cookies.  You can even add these treats to your breakfast or for a nutritious treat anytime of the day!

Awesome Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

5 apples pealed and cored*
3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple butter
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 375^o.  Place apples, water and cinnamon in small saucepan and cook over low heat till apples are soft.  Pour cooked apples into large mixing bowl.  Add oatmeal and remaining ingredients and mix well.  Drop small spoonfuls of batter onto parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake 15min.  When done, carefully transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool.  

*Useful tip: how to pick Apples for Baking
The best apples to use when baking are varieties that hold their shape, such as: Cortland, Empire, Granny Smith, Gala, Jonagold and Golden Delicious. Avoid varieties such as Pink Lady or Fuji (that fall apart when baked) or Red Delicious (which tastes much better crunchy and raw)

About the Author:

Peggy Kotsopoulos is a Certified Health Educator and Culinary Consultant focused on teaching REAL health through lifestyle and dietary choices that are easy and delicious!  As the founder of beVibrant wellness consulting,  Peggy has successfully instilled healthy habits amongst hundreds of children, and in turn families, through the design and delivery of schools wellness programs, parent education seminars, consultations, and her talent for developing decadent healthy recipes.  To find out more, contact Peggy at 416.721.5758 or peggy@bevibrant.ca