Healthful Bites

Fall is rapidly approaching, and that means a new set of seasonal produce will soon be hitting stores and farmers’ market stands! One of my fall faves? Apples. So here are three reasons why you should include an apple a day (or a few times a week) to your diet.

1. It’s National Apple Month! There’s no better way to celebrate the more than 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide than by noshing on one. Check out the astonishing facts about these different “breeds” here. And take your “pick” (haha!) at an orchard near you.

2. The health benefits of apples are amazing. No wonder it’s said that they keep the doctor away! Research has proven that apples encourage heart health, cancer prevention and may ease certain breathing difficulties. Plus the fiber in this fruit increases feelings of fullness. One study found that participants who ate an apple 15 minutes before lunch ate about 190 fewer calories at that lunch, compared to when they ate applesauce, sipped on apple juice or consumed nothing before dining (and that’s taking into account the calories from the apple itself). Fascinating!

3. These crisp fruits are perfect in numerous meals, snacks—have you tried apple smiles?—and desserts! Which leads me nicely into the recipe: my Flatout PB2+A Wrap. The players…

You can use your favorite nut butter, sliced whole apples of any variety and your choice whole wheat wrap for this recipe—this is just what I have on hand and enjoy!

If you’re using PB2 (which I first introduced in this post from last November) add water to reconstitute. Then spread evenly on your wrap.

Thinly slice the apples and arrange on the bottom one-third of the wrap, a tip I learned from my pal and Flatout pro Jenn!

Simply tuck, roll and slice! This makes for an ideal snack or light breakfast—supplying about 175 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 15 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber (when using the ingredients in amounts that I used). Fall perfection!

What is your favorite variety of apple and why? It seems that everyone I speak with about this has a very definitive answer…and I’d love to hear yours!

Along with hosting a fun giveaway for my birthday yesterday (what are you waiting for…go enter!), I enjoyed a slice of delicious apple pie courtesy of Rocco DiSpirito himself! Well, I actually cooked it myself, but I got the recipe from Rocco’s fantastic new cookbook: “Now Eat This! 150 of America’s Great Comfort Foods All Under 350 Calories.” Despite my desire to edit the subtitle to “Less Than 350 Calories”—you can take the girl out of the journalism school, but can’t take the journalism school out of the girl—my family and I have been having a great time trying out several recipes from this bestseller.

Yummy food and a cute chef? Don’t mind if I do!

So in lieu of a birthday cake, I set my sights on tackling the apple pie a la Rocco. You’ll have to grab a copy of the cookbook for the exact recipe, but I’ll give you a photo tour of my experience!

I peeled, cored and cut the apples…

and added my own flair of lemon juice (a trick I learned on the Food Network) to keep the apples from browning while I was a bit slow with preparation.

Then I coated the apples in a special spice mixture. 

Next I poured all the ingredients for the crumb topping in the food processor. This formula reminds me more of my Mom’s apple crisp recipe than apple pie, but either way, it tastes great! 

And the topless shot ;)

All in a pie pan and ready to bake!

The heat is on!

And fresh out of the oven.

This was one of my favorite of Rocco’s recipes so far! What a great (and healthful) way to celebrate my birthday. Thank you to all who sent well wishes and shared in the fun with me! 

What are some of your favorite birthday treats?