An Apple a Day will Keep the Doctor Away

Be the (red) apple of someone’s eye on Eat a Red Apple Day, which is celebrated on December 1st every year. Red apples are not only delicious, but they are also nutritious. Have you heard the old phrase, “an apple a day will keep the doctor away?” They aren’t kidding! Apples are praiseworthy as a miracle fruit for centuries.

The phrase dates back to 1866 when a variant of the proverb, “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread,” was used in Pembrokeshire, a town in Whales. This simple phrase reminds us to eat a healthy diet (to avoid going to the doctor).  Read more about this phrase!

Nutrition Behind the Apple:

Ole Johnny Appleseed loves apples because of the rich antioxidants, flavanoids, and high fiber, Potassium, and Vitamin C. The phytonutrients found in the antioxidants of apples help reduce the risk of heart-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.

Weight loss:

If weight loss is your goal, apples are your friend! An unpeeled, medium-sized apple is typically around 52 calories and is composed of main carbs, water, simple sugars, and a low glycemic index. The fiber and low-calorie content make this delicious snack a “go-to” treat. Studies show a weight loss of 2.9 lbs. Over a 12 week time Fram from women who were instructed to eat 1.5 large apples a day. That sounds like a plan to me!

High in variety!

There are over 2,500 varieties of apples grown just in the United States, and 7,500 apple varieties grown around the world. Apples typically come in shades of reds, greens, and yellows and are around 80 calories each. Apples grow in all 50 states, but here are a few common facts about apples grown in our neck of the woods:

• Granny Smith – crispy, tart, and juicy
  • Bright green color
  • Originally from Australia
  • Best used in making the traditional American Apple Pie
• Red Delicious – sweet, but mild flavoring (somewhat like an over-ripe melon)
  • Standard “teacher’s apple.”
  • Bright red coloring
  • Best used in fresh preparations (like a fruit tray)
• Honey Crisp – pleasant sweet-tart
  • Bright red color, streaks of yellow
  • Best used paired with oats
  • Baked Honey Crisp  for a seasonal treat
• Golden Delicious – sweet, creamy, mellow
  • Bright yellow/green coloring
  • Best used in silky, apple pie recipe
  • Best “baking apple” of all
• Fuji – crisp, predominantly sweet, very refreshing
  • Lovely pink speckles cover a yellow-green background
  • Best for delicious scones or apple sauces
• Ambrosia – sweet, juicy, and best in a fruit salad
  • Light-yellow, creamy color
  • Check out this Youtube: How to Make Ambrosia Fruit Salad
• Ginger Gold – soft, yet mild tart taste
  • Color? You guessed it! Light-yellow or “gold.”
  • Best used for tarts
• Mutsu – sweet honey flavor
  • Smooth light green to yellow color
  • A considerably large apple, used for baking deep apple pies
  • Apple Nut Cake sounds delicious!
• McIntosh Red – red and green, tastes tart
  • Red and green skin color
  • Known as the “easy to peel” apple
  • Best “all-purpose” apple that can be eaten raw or baked
• Braeburn – tastes crisp, juicy, and hints of pear
  • Streaky yellow and red apple color
  • Combine with cinnamon and bake for a few for a sweet treat
  • Braeburn Apple and Almond Sheet Tart recipe
• Cortland – crisp, juicy, sweetly tart
  • Bright red, spots of yellow background
  • Best used for baking, hand eating, and salads
• Empire – fresh, spicy, sweet, a hint of spice
  • Intense maroon-red, overtopping a light green background
  • Best used for fruit cups, hand-eating, and salads
• Jonathan – sweetly tart, juicy, a hint of spice
  • Creamy yellow
  • Best used for baking and sauce
• Baldwin – sweet and unpretentious, but crisp and pleasant
  • Orange, green to red ombre coloring
  • Best used in pies
• Northern Spy – tart
  • Dual, Red, and green, streaked coloring
  • Upstate New York favorite
  • Best used to make apple cider
  • Northern Spy Apple Pie Recipe
• Ida Red – sweetly tart, firm, juicy
  • Shades of red or green
  • Best used for baking and eating
• Gala – crisp, spicy, pleasantly sour
  • Non-uniform in color
  • Usually striped or mottled in an orange shape
  • Best used for cooking, hand eating, and salads
  • 10 Gala Apple Dessert Recipes

Check out more apple facts here: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/apples/facts.cfm

Where to get apples in our neck of the woods?

Sweet Eats Farm Fruit – https://www.sweeteats.com