The famous line “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away” is famous for a reason. An apple is probably one of the most common fruits there is, and some types, like the Empire apple, are available all throughout the year.  The fruit provide various essential nutrients and minerals that maintain our health and provide energy for our everyday activities. It contains antioxidants that helps neutralize free radicals, it strengthens blood circulation, prevent liver and digestive problems and can even help in maintaining weight. But eating a piece of this wonder fruit each and every day seems to be boring, even if it comes in a variety of colors, which could be reason for you to stop the healthy habit. But fret not, this article will provide you seven excellent ideas for you to creatively, and healthily, chomp on an apple-packed indulgence.

1. Bake it whole, filled with your favorite dried fruit, and then sprinkle it with cinnamon.

This special treat is well-suited if you want something cold for breakfast served with a glass of milk. It is prepared by using an apple corer to make a hole inside the apple as a space for the filling. Peel the upper third of each apple using a sharp knife. Then, put in the dried fruits to create the filling.  Examples of great fillings would be prunes, plums, cranberries and raisins. Whichever you would like to choose are mixed together with syrup, lemon zest, and nutmeg. Gently push some filling inside, just enough to stuff the core. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples. Place the prefilled apples in the oven and let it cool in the pan. The recipe is complete with an estimated 300 calories per serving. In addition, dried fruits are good sources of antioxidants and cinnamon helps lower LDL cholesterol.

2. Add sliced or diced apples to a mixed salad.

Keeping our bodies healthy requires eating easily-digestible food that will provide us with the energy and the nutrients that we need while ensuring easy disposal of harmful wastes. Eating a wholesome apple salad that does not need cooking can provide you with this detoxifying requirement. All you need to do is to slice or dice an apple and then combine these with other fruits and some vegetables like carrots, and mix them altogether. Also, for an extra appetizing look, you can serve the salad by putting them in lettuce leaves.

3. Peel and cook, and then make an applesauce.

A recipe best served during a family dinner, the applesauce completes the sweet and healthy craving of every family member. All you need are apples, preferably Granny Smith, ground cinnamon, water and for the sweetener, replace sugar with natural saccharine like maple syrup or honey. Sugar is linked to obesity and you wouldn’t want your children or siblings to contribute to the high childhood obesity statistics.

The applesauce is made by peeling, removing the core and then slicing apples. Place the apples in a large pot and put over some cinnamon, water and natural sweetener. Bring the apples to a boil and then simmer for about 20 minutes or until the apples are soft enough to mash. Mash the apples according to the consistency you prefer. Refrigerate the applesauce to cool or if you want, you may serve it warm. You can also add the home-made applesauce on top of cooked dishes or whole wheat bread.

4. Add to yogurt for dessert.

Nothing beats the excitement of getting a special treat for dessert especially if it is not only tasty but also healthy. Try on raw apples and dip them on to your favorite low fat yogurt. The combination of apples and yogurt both help keep the digestive tract healthy. The yogurt ingredient allows good bacteria to populate in the intestine to aid in digestion while the apples provide the fiber that speeds up the passage food in the digestive system. Take note, however, that there are certain types of yogurt that contain unhealthy components like those with added artificial sweeteners.

5. Make Apple cider.

The tasty non-alcoholic drink made from apples can be brought fresh from the market or made at home though you have to make sure you have the right equipment since it requires fermentation and pasteurization. The apple cider is famously served during special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. To make an apple cider, first choose the right apples. You can choose from the sweet-tasting or tart-tasting types though the tart-tasting apples provide a sharper and tangy-flavored taste. Then you are ready to core, puree and press the apples. Then proceed to store the apple extracts in an air-tight covered container in the refrigerator for about seven days. After a week, pasteurize the apples by heating it up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit in order to kill the bacteria that might be present. Refrigerate the pasteurized apple cider and then you are ready to serve them. Furthermore, apple ciders can be turned into vinegar, which is more popularly used to treat kidney stones.

6. Sliced apples dipped in melted dark chocolate for dessert.

After pairing the apples with yogurt, syrup and cinnamon, what more could we do to complete the wonderful healthy treat? Well, who would not agree with the mouthwatering delight of dark chocolates? Dark chocolate contains antioxidants. It can be melted to serve as a dip for the sliced apples.

Adding some chopped walnuts to the liquefied dark chocolate can even create an extra charm. Although, take into consideration that chocolate, even dark, still contains a considerable amount of sugar that is, if taken excessively, not good for the body. So use this chocolate and apple recipe in moderation.

7. Juice it up!

A perfect drink match to every snack, which is best if home-made, is apple juice. Of course, you would need a juicing device. It is advised to squeeze a lemon through the juicer before the apples and wash the apples well. It is also recommended that you include the apple peel or covering when juicing. The apple’s outer covering provides more nutrients than its inside since it is an abundant source of vitamin A, while vitamin C is obtained underneath the apple skin. If you want to offer a great appetizing value to your fresh home-made apple juice, choose the ripe apples.

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