Have you had your 'apple a day'?

'An apple a day keeps the doctor away', so the saying goes. In fact the benefits of apples have now been well-documented. Numerous studies have shown that apples have antioxidant properties, they lower bad cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, have protective properties for lung health and possibly inhibit cancer cell growth.

So we know we should be eating more of them, but are you really eating one a day?
I love apples. I'll have them for breakfast, snacks, put them in salads, smoothies, even in tempeh dishes. I also find them to be the ideal travelling snack. They are perfect to have on hand when hunger strikes and there is nothing good to eat on the horizon. And they're so handy. I just throw a few in my bag (not literally), and I'm ready to go.
Once, while waiting for my hand baggage to go through the airport x-ray machine, the guy checking the monitor commented on the five apples he could see in my bag. "You like apples, eh?"
(It was a long journey!)

However, whilst I am one of those irritating people that eats the whole apple, including the core, (waste not, want not) I appreciate that for some people sometimes apples can be, well, dare I say, boring? 

So here are two ways to make your 'daily apple' more joyful, tasty and more filling.
Oh and remember, if you're not hungry enough to eat an apple, then you're probably not really hungry at all ;)
​
Mimi Kirk's 'Apple Sunrise' inspired me for these recipes. 

Almond Butter, Cinnamon & Hemp
​Apple Slices

Almond butter, cinnamon & hemp apple slices

• First of all, wash your apple (preferably organic, skin left on), cut it into quarters, and then again and again until you have slices about 1cm thick.
• Squeeze a little lemon juice onto the slices, to stop them from turning brown. Not a lot, just a little.
• Put 1 tablespoon of soft almond butter into a small dish and spread it on all the slices. One tablespoon should be enough.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon and shelled hemp seeds (aka hemp hearts). If you can't find hemp, use sunflower seeds. Hemp works best because the seeds are small and stick to the apple. ;)

The protein from the almond butter and hemp will keep hunger pangs at bay for longer.
Enjoy!

Cut the apple into quarters

....and then into slices about 1cm thick, no more

Spread 1 tablespoon of almond butter onto the slices

Sprinkle with cinnamon

....and shelled hemp

Chopped Apple with Almond Butter, Hemp, Flaxseed & Almond Milk

The same ingredients, plus flaxseed and almond milk. Eat with a spoon like you would cereal. It's seriously delicious!

• Wash and slice the apple as in the recipe above, then chop it into small pieces, as small as you can. Squeeze a little lemon juice onto the apple pieces.
• Add 1 tablespoon of soft almond butter and mix together well, covering all the apple.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon and shelled hemp seeds. Top with a teaspoon or less of whole flaxseed. A few chopped walnuts on top give you some extra Omega-3s and extra crunch!
• Pour some almond milk (or a plant milk of your choice) over the chopped apple, and enjoy!

Chop up the apple into very small pieces

Mix in 1 tablespoon of almond butter, a sprinkling of cinnamon and some hemp seeds

Top it with some whole flaxseed and almond milk

Delicious!