A+ for Apples: why the fall superfood should be your best friend

Growing up, fall was always one of my favorite seasons, and not just because it guaranteed a free sack of candy on Halloween. The leaves crisp into beautiful, warm colors, the air carries a cool breeze and you can’t help but step outside and take it all in. It’s exactly why whoever came up with apple picking (as a business idea) was a genius. Harvesting your own apples with friends or family while being immersed in the autumn atmosphere is a million times better than tossing store-bought ones into a grocery cart.

Last weekend I went apple picking for the first time in more than a decade, and it was phenomenal. For $18, we crammed about 20 apples into our bulging bag without a square inch to spare (not to mention our stomachs bulged too from eating along the way).

The experience turned me into an apple-picking advocate for the following reasons:

1. It’s. So. Much. Fun.
2. Reaching for those high branches is a great way to stretch your body
3. The apples don’t have that waxy coating like the supermarket ones
4. There’s nothing like that natural apple scent
5. You can taste test different varieties
6. Buying from local growers means better quality for you and better business for them. Win-win!
   

Of course, now what do you do with all those apples? Here are 11 ideas:

1. Make caramel apples
2. Serve them with peanut butter
3. Put a few thin slices into your grilled cheese (my go-to pairing: cheddar)
4. Mix up a batch of homemade applesauce
5. Shred them into a smoothie or pancake batter
6. Roast them with cubed butternut squash, pecans and onions
7. Dice them into chicken salad
8. Bake them into crispy cinnamon apple chips
9. Blend them into a smooth apple butter
10. Barbecue them for a sweet bonfire treat
11. Add them (with other favorite fruits) to a glass of sangria

Last but not least, each bite reaps more benefits than you think. Apples are fiber-rich, which is why they make a filling snack. But don’t peel off the skin—that’s where most of the vitamins come from (specifically A and C). Not to mention, an apple a day… well… you know.

Do you have a favorite use for apples? Tell me about it in the comments!
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