Monday, October 5, 2020

15 Healthy Apple Recipes Packed with Fall Flavors

We say apple, you think pie—and rightfully so. There’s nothing like a slice of warm apple heaven on a crisp fall day. But to really make the most of your orchard harvest, consider apples in a parfait for breakfast, as a side to a sandwich or even whipped into a sweet smoothie bowl. Apple recipes are just as versatile as apple varieties!

From Fuji and Honeycrisp to Gala and Golden Delicious, these fall fruit all-stars are bountiful in flavor, rich in fiber and perfect additions to your weight loss plan. Embrace apple picking season and celebrate the autumn harvest with these 15 healthy and delicious apple recipes.

Check out these 15 apple recipes to try this season:

1. Healthy Apple Pie >

healthy apple pie

Calories per Serving: 147

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 2 Extras

It’s got that flaky, buttery crust you crave. It offers the goodness of apples and hints of cinnamon in every bite, like a proper slice of pie should. This recipe is missing one thing: added sugar. Instead, all that natural sweet flavor comes directly from the source—fresh apples that are peeled, sliced and baked into a healthier dough. Made with whole-wheat pastry flour for added fiber and light butter for less fat, this classic fall dessert is both palate-pleasing and waist-friendly, making it one of our favorite healthy apple recipes.

2. Apple Pie Yogurt Parfait >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 186

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 PowerFuel

Cool and creamy Greek yogurt is layered with a warm combo of apples and spices for the perfect parfait to start your day sweet or enjoy as an afternoon treat. For some crunch and extra protein, sprinkle chopped walnuts or sliced almonds on top; then dive in—spoon first.

3. Air Fryer Apple Fritter >

air fryer donut

Calories per Serving: 128

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 Extra

What this fritter lacks in presentation it makes up for in taste: Pillowy dough, fresh apples, cinnamon and sugar combine to create a delicious donut-meets-apple-pie confection. Making them in an air fryer eliminates the need for fatty oils, but provides enough heat to get the satisfying crisp on the outside layer. Plus, replacing some of the standard fritter ingredients with healthier substitutes—like fiber-rich whole wheat flour instead of white and non-fat milk instead of its full-fat counterpart—helps these notoriously unhealthy treats find their place in your healthy diet.

4. Fall Spinach Salad with Apple Vinaigrette >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 277

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb, 1 PowerFuel, 1 Vegetable, 2 Extras

Crunchy apple slices, crisp spinach leaves, vitamin-rich radishes and creamy goat cheese join nutritional forces to create a colorful salad that’s as healthy as it is satisfying. Juicy pomegranate seeds add a burst of tartness and the combination pairs perfectly with tang of homemade apple vinaigrette dressing.

5. Simple Slow Cooker Applesauce >

healthy apple recipes

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb

If you’ve got lots of extra apples from your last picking, this is the recipe for you: a dozen of these sweet fruits slow-cook to about 14 servings of good-for-you applesauce. Flavor the apples with cinnamon, nutmeg and a little apple cider vinegar, but be sure to leave the skins on: much of the nutrients reside in the outer layer. Skip the sugar—no need with this delicious recipe—and let the slow cooker works its magic.

6. Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Apple Slaw >

Grilled chicken sandwich

Calories per Serving: 260

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb, 1 PowerFuel and 1 Extra

Freshen up the Nutrisystem Grilled Chicken Sandwich with a homemade apple slaw topper. All you have to do is mix together coleslaw mix, match-stick sized apple slices, light mayonnaise and black pepper. Stack the slaw mix between the buns to bring a little crisp and crunch to every sandwich bite.

7. 2-Minute “Baked” Cinnamon Apples >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 96

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb

The name says it all: two minutes and two ingredients are what you need for this super simple snack. Just slice an apple, sprinkle cinnamon, pop in the microwave and voila—farm-stand taste in no time. For extra sweetness, add stevia or monk fruit. Want to add an Extra? Drizzle a little maple syrup or dollop fat-free whipped cream on top.

8. Creamy Apple Cinnamon Smoothie Bowls >

smoothie bowl

Calories per Serving: 221

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 PowerFuel

Super popular smoothie bowls get a seasonal twist with this creamy, dreamy recipe! Apples and cinnamon bring the flavors of fall; frozen bananas add potassium and thickness; Vanilla Nutrisystem Shake Mix packs in the protein and fiber, plus 23 vitamins and minerals. With energy-boosting nutrients in every spoonful, this smoothie bowl is the perfect meal to kick-start your day or provide an afternoon power boost.

9. Air Fryer Apple Chips >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 98

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb

Ready-to-eat apple chips at the supermarket are expensive. DIY versions using a food dehydrator take forever. Enter: the air fryer. In just eight minutes, one medium apple seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg morphs into sweet, crispy chips that weigh in at less than 100 calories per serving.

10. Instant Pot Apple Cake >

instant pot cake

Calories per Serving: 128

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 Extra

The Instant Pot has been called the Swiss Army Knife of kitchen tools for a reason: it’s a modernized pressure cooker, but it also sautés, acts like a slow cooker, steamer, food warmer and yes, dessert baker. Just place a springform pan filled with sliced apples, whole-wheat flour, spices and a handful of other ingredients into the Instant Pot. In one hour, you have an apple cake that’s moist, cinnamon-flavored and satisfyingly delicious.

11. Pumpkin Pie Applesauce >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 99

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb

I mean, why not? Apple meets pumpkin in this awesome sauce so you can enjoy two quintessential fall flavors in one tasty snack. Just toss apple slices, pumpkin pie filling and a slew of spices—cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg—into a crock pot. Add stevia and vanilla extract for sweetness, then let it stew for about five hours. If you can’t wait that long to sink your spoon into this hearty applesauce, cook it on the stove instead for 30 minutes. If you prefer a smooth texture over chunky, pour it in the blender and puree.

12. Chocolate Caramel Apples >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 94

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1/2 SmartCarb and 2 Extras

Yes, you can have chocolate on your apple and you can certainly drizzle caramel on it, too. But the decadence doesn’t end there: Before the gooey combo hardens, top your fruit with crushed peanuts for some protein-packed crunch. Then sink your teeth into the sinfully delicious treat without an ounce of guilt.

13. Air Fryer Apple Almond Butter S’mores >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 127

On Nutrisystem, Count As: ½ SmartCarb and 2 Extras

It looks like s’mores. It’s got graham crackers and gooey marshmallow, like good s’mores should. But with almond butter instead of chocolate and slices of apple in between, this inspired twist on the campfire classic is a little sweet, a little salty and a lot healthy. Plus, there’s no need to stoke any flames for this s’more: Just three minutes in an air fryer and the creative concoction is complete.

14. Air Fryer Baked Apple >

healthy apple recipes

Calories per Serving: 139

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1/2 SmartCarb, 1/2 PowerFuel and 1 Extra

Sometimes you just need good ole’ comfort food to get you through a rough afternoon. Or maybe you’re needing something sweet at the end of a not-so-sweet day. This baked apple will do the trick. Simply split the fruit in half, scoop out some of the flesh and spoon in a tasty trio of walnuts, raisins and spices mixed with a smidge of butter. Twenty minutes in the air fryer and out pops a soft and sweet treat that can help soothe your soul, and still keep your weight loss on track.

15. Booze-Free Appletini >

healthy apple recipes

On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb

No matter how slow you sip, many alcoholic drinks serve up lots of calories and sugar, without any nutrients. Not the best combo when you’re trying to lose weight. Enter the mocktail: fun and fancy drinks that are light on calories but big on refreshing flavor. This appletini mixes 100% apple juice with chopped Granny Smith apples, lemon juice and a little Stevia for a tangy take on a happy hour favorite.

For more creative ways to get healthy with your apple recipes, check out our recipe section on The Leaf for the latest updates!

The post 15 Healthy Apple Recipes Packed with Fall Flavors appeared first on The Leaf.



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How do you "enjoy the process"?

I saw someone's comment the other day about enjoying the process of weight loss, and it got me thinking. To be honest, I'm a number chaser. I want to see progress (doesn't everyone?) and I get discouraged very easily. I'm 32/F/388lbs (started at 446) and I have been taking progress pics since August (didn't think to take one at my highest in March (didn't actually think I'd get this far! ) but I don't see a change even though my dad/coworkers have commented. So I know it's happening.

But it made me start to think...how am I "enjoying the process"? How does one do that, when you really want to be thinner/more fit NOW even though you know it takes time?

I guess I am enjoying having way more energy? I enjoy the feeling of tired muscles after a work out (even if I complain the next day). It's so hard to focus on health over weight, because I want both.

So give me some insight, hive-mind: How do YOU enjoy the process?

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Sunday, October 4, 2020

My first experience with others opinions on my weight loss journey.

For the first time since I started losing weight I had someone (my roommate) comment about it in a way that pissed me off.

After work one day (at the end of May), I decided to go for a walk on this easy hiking trail/walking path near me. About 1 minute into it I realized I physically couldn’t do it. I had to stop and turn around half way and was in so much pain the next few days because I pushed myself so hard. I cried the whole way home because I was so ashamed. It was my moment of realization.

Since then and over the last 5 months, I have been using the Lose It app to track my weight, the food I eat, and stick to a certain calorie intake (between 1200-1500 depending on my movement/exercise for the day). I have also added exercise into my routine by doing work out videos 1-2 times a week and walks (2-3 miles) a couple times a week as well.

With these changes, I have managed to lose 45lbs. When I was talking to my roommate about eating healthier the other day (she is trying to make life style changes too), she mentioned that I maybe I was losing weight too quickly and that I needed to eat more. That I wasn’t losing weight in a healthy way. She then began talking about people who lose weight unhealthy and how they gain it all back because what they’re doing isn’t sustainable.

It hit a nerve and It hurt. I have been obese my entire life. I have never had a healthy relationship with or even understood a lot of basic things about food. I am 30 and JUST learning the difference between genuine hunger and a craving. I’m learning how many calories are in certain foods and what normal portions are. I am working hard, learning, trying to be healthy, and most importantly making slow progress that I AM sustaining. I didn’t think my weight loss was too fast but I have no clue what a “standard” weight loss timeline is.

It’s just really shitty to have someone tell you what you’re doing is wrong or comment about your choices. Part of me thinks it’s because they are seeing my progress and not seeing any of their own but I don’t want to assume negative intentions. Maybe she really was concerned about my well-being, but it definitely didn’t come across that way.

Now I feel less comfortable being open about my choices and habits, which I’m already reserved about anyway because of how personal my weight and my weight loss journey is for me.

I don’t know. I’m just rambling and maybe this isn’t the right place for this post. It’s unfortunate because I feel GOOD. I’m proud, I have energy, I’m gaining confidence, I’m sleeping better, I’m growing as a person, and I’m making important changes.

Fuck her and her shitty opinions about my life choices. I’m happy with everything I have accomplished and can’t wait to see where I am in another 5 months.

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Life is still difficult

Last year, I had started my weight loss journey. Down from 263 lbs to 180 lbs today. When I was obese, I would constantly think to myself, "once I get fit, things are going to be so much better!".

It's not. I got rejected today at work, the first time I've put myself out there since I've lost the weight. I'm still working all the time, I still have legal issues, I'm still trying to save up and move out of my parents house, I'm still driving my same shitty car, I still don't have any friends. And being rejected today has made me feel lower than I ever have, and makes me want to give up eating right and exercising because... what's the point?

I know this is supposed to be a happy subreddit, but I just thought things were going to change drastically once I achieved a normal BMI, and they didn't. How can I find motivation to keep at this lifestyle if it feels hopeless either way? I realize that a lot of things that I have in my life that I'm not happy with have nothing to do with weight, I don't know, maybe I had my hopes too high or maybe the terrible feeling of being turned down today is talking. I finally had confidence in myself after so many years overweight/obese to make myself vulnerable and put myself out there again, and I got shot down, and I'm really struggling to hold onto hope/motivation tonight.

While losing weight is awesome, helps you stay healthier, makes you feel good physically and gives you energy, it's important to realize life is still life. Everything isn't magically going to change.

I do plan to start lifting weights in my free time to start building muscle mass, maybe that'll give me the motivation to keep a healthy lifestyle. Can I ask if anyone else here has felt this way, and how you dealt with it?

Sorry again for such a negative post in an otherwise positive, uplifting community. r/loseit has really helped me so much to get to where I am today. I just feel awful tonight.

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Weight Loss accountability

Hey reddit,

This is my first post so I don't know how this works, but basically I'm 5'10 (178cm) around 85 Kg with really bad BF% ( I really don't have any metrics I just use the eye test and it's not good). Quarantine has been bad for me in terms of weight gain and I'd really like to lose a solid 13-15 Kg and ideally 9 of those would go by the new year. I just always had an issue with consistency so I'd love to use this post to consistently record what I did (workout) and what I ate for the coming weeks just to keep myself accountable. This way, if I ever BS big time I'm either gonna get scorched by a comment (If someone has enough time to ever check this post) or calls myself out on it since its on the Internet anyway.

hopefully I'll keep updating through comments or something, for consistency obviously, so please if you have time and think I need to be called out on bad habits, feel free to do so.

thanks

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Bought new clothes for the first time in....forever

Ooooooooh boy, what a crazy few days it's been. A little background to start - I'm a 5'11", 32 year old guy who has been fat since puberty. I have never had any idea what it's like to feel thin and have never felt good about the way I look. For the last year I've been losing weight, down to 185 lbs from a start of about 265 (probably higher but this is the highest recorded weight I have).

I wish someone had warned me - instead of feeling thinner, I just feel like I used to be fatter. When I see myself in the mirror I'll see the same person I've ever seen but when I look at pictures from before I started I'll think "man, I was way fatter than I thought I was." It's a total mind**** and defies ALL logic.

I went out last week on a whim and bought some new clothes - nothing fancy, just some jeans and a couple shirts. I'm a nurse so I basically wear nothing but scrubs and pajamas, so I've gotten away with buying no new clothes at all over the last year. Buying clothes has historically been a nightmare, not because I couldn't find anything big enough, but I just hated how anything looked on me.

I went to the waiting room with 6 pairs of jeans, ranging from 42 waist to 36 (yeah right, I thought - like I could fit into a 36), and a few shirts from L to XXL because I had no idea what size I was anymore. Everything was huge on me. I was sure I got something wrong, but when I came back with 32 waist jeans and a couple medium shirts, not only did they fit, but I got to see what I looked like when I wasn't wearing clothes with the purpose of hiding myself inside of them with mountains of extra fabric.

I looked good - and I actually felt like an adult for the first time in years. Looking back at it I can't believe how much I was hiding myself away from the world because of my severe insecurity. Weight loss doesn't solve our problems, but for me it has started to make it easier for me to be the person I want to, but never thought I could be.

TL;DR - I lost a bunch of weight, bought some new clothes that actually fit my body, and gained some confidence.

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Need advice managing stress and binge eating

Hello. I’ve recently been undergoing a lot more stress than usual at my job, to the point where I am seriously considering quitting to be a stay at home mom. I don’t have the type of job where I can just put in a 4 week notice and cut out.

The last three weekends I have seriously faltered. I’ve binge drank and ate, but I get back on strict calorie limiting throughout the week. I’ve tried to exercise, but it’s way more sparse. I’ve lost some of my dedication I had early on.

For reference, I had lost about 34 lbs when I started picking up these bad habits again. SW 240, CW 210, GW 160.

I think I’m looking for some validation in knowing screw ups won’t destroy all my progress. I was very disheartened watching my scale creep back up. I’m sabotaging my progress due to stress and I’m struggling to keep afloat. This is my first time in my life being conscious in improving my health and weight loss. Help?

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