You’ve heard, “An apple a day will keep the doctor away.” While it will certainly take more than a daily apple to keep you healthy, it is a step in the right direction. Apples are delicious, easy to carry for snacking, low in calories, a natural mouth freshener, and widely available at markets, grocery stores, and orchards!
Nutrients
Apples are a source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps to prevent the buildup of cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease. The insoluble fiber in apples helps food move quickly through the digestive system, reducing the risk of some types of cancers and improving digestive health.
It is a good idea to eat washed apples with their skin. Almost half of the vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Eating the skin also increases insoluble fiber content.
There are hundreds of varieties of apples, although most people have only tasted one or two of the most popular types. Apples can be sweet, tart, soft and smooth, or crisp and crunchy, depending on the one you choose.
Reasons to Enjoy an Apple
Apples are one of nature’s best snack foods that can help reduce obesity. Here are some of the top reasons to enjoy an apple:
- Fat-free
- Sodium-free
- Cholesterol-free
- Free from artificial colors or flavors
- Contains natural sugars
- Only 80 calories
- Excellent source of fiber
- Convenient, satisfying snack
- Packed with vitamins, fiber, and water
How do we encourage kids to eat more apples?
Turns out the answer may be simple: Slice them up!
Researchers from Cornell University discovered elementary students will eat significantly more apples if they are served in ready-to-eat pieces. For the study, school cafeterias were asked to cut apples into six pieces. Apple sales in those schools jumped an average of 61%. More importantly, the number of students who ate more than half of their apple jumped 73% when the fruit was cut up.
Storing apples
Apples keep best when refrigerated. Store them in a plastic bag or the drawer to keep them fresh. Check them often. Remove any decayed apples. One rotten apple can indeed spoil the whole barrel!
Many different variety of Colorado Apples are ready for the picking. Check out local orchards for some of the Colorado favorites.
For more information on apple varieties and apple recipes, check out the Family Matters Newsletter.
