Time to pick some apples!
Crunch! There is nothing better than biting into a crisp apple just picked from the tree. Each fall, I soo look forward to our family fall ritual of apple picking. Our new favorite apple orchard is Honey Pot Hill Orchard. It is a beautiful setting and well laid out, so you don’t realize the crowds. For the little kids there are animals, a hedge maze and their famous hot fresh cinnamon-cider donuts!
I have to say that apples are one of my favorite fruits. They are simple, inexpensive, portable nourishment. With my friend the apple in tow, I am never caught without something healthy to eat!
In addition to their simplicity and deliciousness, here are my 5 top health reasons to eat an “Apple a Day”
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Reduce Cholesterol
Apples are full of a fiber called pectin—a medium-sized apple contains about 4 grams of fiber. Pectin is classed as a soluble and viscous fibre. The soluble fiber found in apples binds with fats in the intestine, which means lower cholesterol levels for you!
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Help Protect Against Cancer
Researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—found in apple peels that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in our liver, colon and breast.
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Boost your Immune System and Your Brain
Red apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you’re stressed out. It has proven to be more effective than vitamin C at protecting brain cells from oxidative damage which could help keep your memory sharp.
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Decrease Risk of Diabetes
Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop type-2 diabetes than those who don’t eat apples. It helps that apples are loaded with soluble fiber—the key to blunting blood sugar swings.
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Smile Pretty
Biting and chewing an apple stimulates the production of saliva in your mouth, reducing tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria.
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When we got home from the orchard, I needed to make an apple dessert fast, and apple pie was not an option. So I chose to make an Apple Clafoutis — so simple, and pretty enough to serve guests!
Apple Clafoutis
As the clafouti cooks, the fruit that sits at the bottom will rise up as the batter surrounds the fruit. The end result is a beautiful, golden dessert. Its consistency will lie somewhere between a custard and a cake. The best part is that it is lower in sugar and higher in fiber than other traditional apple desserts.
So go ahead, grab the kids for a day in the apple orchard or farmer’s market and fill your bags with those fresh, crispy apples. Your body and family will thank you for it!