Falling in Love With Fall

Fall is the time of year when the weather is cool, the leaves will start to turn colors and most importantly, it is apple season. My husband and I went apple picking over the weekend and had a blast. The farm was awesome and allowed us to drive our car to the area where we wanted to pick our favorite apples. They had a large variety of apples and had my two favorites: Pink Lady and Jonagold. My husband’s favorite apple is McIntosh. We filled 2 large bags with these delicious apples and also bought a jug of apple cider. It was a perfect day! I know that apples are good for you, but was curious to know how healthy they really are. I did some search and found some interesting information that I want to share with you.

• Apples are a good source of soluble fiber, especially pectin, which helps control insulin levels by slowing the release of sugar into your bloodstream. This is the fruit of choice for diabetics.
• Pectin also helps reduce cholesterol levels by lowering insulin secretion.
• Cornell University researchers have found that the amount of fresh apple extract from a medium apple with skin provides the antioxidant activity equal to 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C. 
• Apples contain quercetin, which is a natural antioxidant – but don’t peel your apples as this is only found in the skin.

It turns out that eating an apple a day just might keep the doctor away!

Weekly Food Menu

Sunday and Wednesday: Turkey sausage with sautéed onions and peppers

Monday and Friday: Veggie chili over brown rice

Tuesday and Thursday: Whole grain pasta with sautéed veggies

Saturday: Whole grain pizza with turkey pepperoni and fat free mozzarella cheese

Keep me posted on your progress at Riare43a@aol.com.