19+ Healthy Ways to Cook With Fall Apples

Fresh fall apples from the farm!

It's apple picking season!

A few weeks ago I plucked some plump, red fruit from the apple trees on my mom's farm. In addition to eating them as snacks, I've been trying to figure out what to do with all these apples!

Of course the usual fall favorites came to mind: apple pie, apple crisp, apple muffins.

Although those classics are super tasty, they're not the healthiest ways to use this seasonal whole food.

So, I made a big batch of applesauce lightly seasoned with honey and cinnamon -- and it's fantastic! To be honest, I also made one small pan of apple crisp. But, the rest of those apples will be gracing some of these amazing apple recipes I've collected on Pinterest:

Healthy Apple Recipes for Fall

Do you have a favorite fall apple recipe I should add to my Pinterest board above? Tell me the URL in the comments below and I'll check it out!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Don't miss another post from Whole Foods Living! Subscribe (in the right margin of this page) for email updates!

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Apples, Apples Everywhere!

 Photo Credit: Alvimann, morgueFile

In the Midwest, apples and pumpkins are the top fall crops for home bakers. Last weekend at the local farmer's market, nearly every booth had at least two or three varieties of crisp, fall apples and a pumpkin or two for sale.

I've been keeping busy making apple crisp and applesauce.

When I whip up a batch of applesauce, I like to sweeten the apples with raw honey and cinnamon. For a crisp, I experiment. Sometimes the topping includes chopped nuts or dried fruit, like walnuts or cranberries. When I really want to be sinful, I top apple crisp with homemade caramel sauce.

Are apples plentiful in your neck of the woods too? What have you been making?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Check out my other fall-inspired foodie articles!

11 Ways to Add Pumpkin to Your Plate

Cocoa with a Twist: 9 New Ways to Enjoy Hot Chocolate

7 Tips for the Best Apple Crisp

An Apple A Day: Kicking off the 2012 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge!

Fresh Apples. Photo by Scott Bauer.

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, that's the perfect way to kickstart the 2012 Blogging from A to Z April challenge! Today, we're talking about America's favorite fruit: apples!

If you're new to Whole Foods Living, you're in for a (healthy!) treat. Each day this month (excluding the last four Sundays) I'll spotlight a healthy whole food, ways to live chemical-free and helpful cooking tips to keep your meals healthy. I'm even planning a nutrition quiz or two!

So, Are Apples Healthy?
Apples are packed with phytonutrients that help regulate blood sugar and balance the good bacteria in the digestive tract, according to The World's Healthiest Foods. To get the most nutrition from an apple, eat it in it's whole foods form. Apple juice and applesauce are a result of processing, and lack the fiber and vitamins found in a fresh apple.

Healthy Apple Recipes
One of my favorite quick breakfasts is crispy apple slices dipped in nut butter. From peanuts to almonds or cashews, you really can't go wrong. The combination of protein (from the nuts) and sugar (from the apple) is the perfect post-morning workout snack.

If you're looking for a healthy alternative to apple pie, try making sweet baked apples. After halving and coring an apple, place it skin-side down in a baking pan with a little water. Fill the apple with a mixture of organic raisins, chopped walnuts, a dash of cinnamon and a big squeeze of honey or agave syrup. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. This sweet treat will satisfy your dessert cravings without the calories of a fat-filled pie crust or chemically-treated refined sugar.

What are your favorite ways to enjoy fresh apples? Please share your ideas or links to recipes in the comments below! I'm always looking for a new ways to indulge in apples.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Check back tomorrow for day two of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. I'll be sharing a yummy Berry smoothie recipe for the letter B!
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