Apple Match Stick Fries: Reducing the risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma and diabetes

This morning I posted a link on Twitter that speaks of the great health benefits of apples (HERE)  Thanks to my mandoline, we have found some creative  ways to make snacking on an apple a bit more appealing to even those who insisted that they didn’t like apples.  

 

With much more focus on eating smaller meals with healthy snacks twice a day, apples are a great go-to for all ages.  With over 7000 different varieties around the world, there are at least a handful that will make your mouth water.  (For an apple directory, try HERE)

 

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the two top killers in North America, choose apples for preventative measure considering they are loaded with phytonutrients (plant nutrients) that are known to reduce the risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma and diabetes.  (http://www.nutritionj.com/content/3/1/5)

 

Give your palate a treat, pick some apples the next time you are out and make a point of including an apple once a day in your diet, however you choose to slice, dice or bite it 😉  Your body will thank you!

 

Try it!

-M

 

 

 

 

 

Having your Kids Eat More Fruit 101: Have fun and PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD!

We WILL get to vegetables next but in the meantime, this is definitely one solution to the question, “How do I get my children to eat more fruit?”

PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD!

It goes against every principle that we were taught as little ones but the truth is, we eat with our eyes first.  This is a very simple and incredibly easy snack but one that is incredibly popular in our house.  Sometimes it’s how it’s sliced and the convenience.  Other times it is the sound a food makes when you bite into it that grabs the kids attention.

What you need:

A mandoline slicer (Since purchasing one, I literally use it every day throughout the entire day. I bought this particular one online here)

Apple (Treat yourself to an organic apple reducing the pesticides and free radical damage in your body but also, TASTE!  TASTE!  TASTE!  Go crazy… eat the skin too which is LOADED with nutrients!)

Peanut Butter is optional (We love Bee’s Knees by Peanut Butter & Co.)

There are different attachments but what we enjoy most is slicing up the apple and then putting it back together like a puzzle, wrap it and slip in in a lunch box.  When it comes time to eat, you just slide a slice off and the browning due to the oxidizing is at a bare minimum!  Enjoy!!

****BONUS****  This particular mandoline has an attachment where we also make apple “match sticks” that are tiny and fun enough for everyone to snack on and a huge hit when we are serving lunch at home (they brown too quickly to send to school for lunch)

WARNING:  If away at, let’s say, a soccer game or school, pack more than one because there WILL be others asking you for a piece!  It’s a fun way to eat an apple, convenient and as some kids tell me, “tastes better this way.”  (wink!)

Serious WARNING:  A mandoline slicer is NOT a toy and is incredibly sharp!!  To keep all of your digits, I highly recommend investing in a cut resistant kitchen glove.  This little glove has saved me a few times.

So go on out there, Try it!