Is there anything nicer about late summer and fall than new-season apples and pears? I don’t think so.
Most people know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, did you know that a pear a day can do the same?
Apples and pears share a nutritional benefit called fiber which is especially important to digestive health, nutrient absorption, and appetite control. In fact, if you eat a medium sized apple or pear, you’ll consume 5-6 grams of fiber along with about 100 calories. Also, there are plant-based phytochemicals in apples and pears and research shows that they can protect us against serious and chronic diseases. Yes, apples and pears have impressive resumes and so be sure to add them generously to your grocery cart.
7 Ways to Enjoy Apples and Pears in Healthy Meals
Here are seven tips about how to add an apple or a pear to your nutrition every day. Their flavor, crunch, and versatility in meals and snacks will make you a fan before long. And, by the way, eating these tasty fruits is a lot more fun than going to the doctor.
- Grill or bake loin pork chops and then top them with chopped up apples mixed with cinnamon and a touch of honey.
- Poach pear halves in purple grape juice until they are nice and soft for dessert.
- Make a breakfast wrap sandwich out of a whole wheat tortilla spread with peanut butter and wrapped around fresh apple slices.
- Add a diced pear to your homemade tuna salad or chicken salad.
- Cut up an apple and/or pear and add it to your chicken-broccoli stirfry for dinner. (For some people, including kids, the sweet flavor of an apple or pear helps reduce the bitterness of broccoli.)
- Grate an apple or firm pear and add it to your pancake or waffle batter, then use applesauce instead of syrup on top of your cooked stack.
- Add chopped-up apple and/or pear to your bowl of oatmeal, then sprinkle it with ground cinnamon or nutmeg and add a big spoonful of yogurt.
A Mediterranean Lifestyle can Begin with Apples and Pears
The Mediterranean Nutrition Pyramid is supported by food groups that come from plants such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and simple foods made from these. Enjoying a fruit, such as an apple or pear, with every meal is a smart way to move closer to this nutritious meal pattern and healthy aging strategy. It’s easy. It’s tasty. It’s smart. Get going with my free Mediterranean Menus download and then come back frequently to read my blogs and browse at my eStore. You’ll be glad you did.