31 Nutritious Ways to Enjoy Apples & Pears

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Sharing 31 nutritious ways to enjoy apples and pears for an entire month. Get new inspiration for including a serving of fruit in your weekly snacks and meals all month long so that you can reap the many health benefits apples and pears provide.

31 Nutritious Ways to Enjoy Apples & Pears All Month Long

1. Enjoy a whole apple – skin and all – for your afternoon snack today. Piñata apples and Pink Lady apples are two great snacking apples.

2. Slice up a ripe d’Anjou pear and mix it with your morning oatmeal for a delicious, fiber-filled breakfast.

3. Add apple sticks into a refreshing salad roll, like our version that includes fresh ingredients like spinach, cucumber, carrot, cilantro and more. A great appetizer or grab-and-go snack!

4. Include slices of your favorite pear variety on a classic ham and cheese sandwich for a fiber and antioxidant boost.

5. Make a green apple smoothie! Blend your favorite apple variety with coconut water, yogurt or milk, pineapple, banana, and kale or spinach with ice for a healthy start to your day.

6. Slice a ripe Bosc pear and serve it over a bed of greens and your favorite vinaigrette for a simple green salad.

7. Infuse sweet flavors into your glass of water by adding a few thinly sliced Fuji apples. Be sure to sprinkle lemon juice on the apples to prevent them from browning.

8. Sweeten up plain, protein filled Greek yogurt with ripe Red d’Anjou pears for a delicious and healthy morning or afternoon snack.

9. For today’s breakfast, skip the syrup and top whole grain pancakes with sautéed apples and a dash of cinnamon.

10. Crunch on an apple 15 minutes before lunch in order to potentially consume fewer calories overall. Read more about this method here.

11. Boost your immune system by lightly tossing ripe d’Anjou pear wedges in orange juice and sprinkling fresh rosemary and a little sugar on top. This simple snack packs a vitamin C and vitamin A punch!

12. Try our Kale and Piñata Apple Salad today to load up on fiber, vitamins K, A, and C, and so much more!

13. Slice a pear in half lengthwise and scoop out a little bowl in the fruit with a spoon. Add a spoonful of cottage cheese and a dash of cinnamon for a simple, filling, and nutritious snack.

14. Core and then slice a Granny Smith apple into discs and top with your go-to chicken salad recipe. The crisp apple helps make this one delicious lunch!

15. Include Piñata apples in your dinner tonight with our recipe for Grilled Shrimp Tostadas with Pinata Mango salsa.

16. For today’s snack, pack a serving of raw almonds and a ripe Bosc pear. Both foods contain soluble fiber, which helps you feel fuller, longer and may aid in weight loss.

17. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Here’s a Green Shamrock Smoothie recipe to help you celebrate: blend one ripe green d’Anjou pear, one banana, 2 cups of spinach, 1 cup of almond milk, ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or kefir, and ice until smooth.

18. Enjoy two superfoods together in a simple Apple & Quinoa salad and reap the benefits from fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. We love this recipe from our friend Jen at Savory Simple.

19. Wheat germ is rich in B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals. For a filling and nutritious breakfast today, toast a whole wheat English muffin, and top it with chunky peanut butter (or nut butter), a heavy sprinkling of wheat germ, and sliced Gala apples.

20. Celebrate the first day of spring with our simple snack recipe for Pear & Cheese Blooms. Kids will love this one too!

21. Make a simple apple wrap for today’s lunch. Top a whole wheat tortilla with cream cheese, deli-style turkey, lettuce, and apple slices. Roll it up and hit the road!

22. Lower blood pressure and reduce stroke risk with baked sweet potato and apple bites. Chop both of these nutritious foods up into bite-sized pieces, toss with a bit of olive oil, and sprinkle your favorite seasonings on top (like paprika, cinnamon, or nutmeg). Bake at 400°F for 20-30 minutes, turning everything halfway through.

23. Make a batch (or two) of our Baked Apple and Pear Chips for a healthy snack for when you are on the go.

24. Baked pears with a dollop of ricotta cheese and a sprinkling of cinnamon makes for a fantastic low-calorie dessert.

25. Fill up on folate and fiber with a simple arugula, roasted red beet, and pear salad with goat cheese and lemon vinaigrette. Beets are a great source of folate and the red color might lower one’s risk of heart disease.

26. Give Overnight Oats with Apples a try for a quick and easy breakfast. To make, combine equal parts of old-fashioned oats, milk, and yogurt (1/3 cup of each is a good base). Put in the fridge overnight so the oats soak up the liquid. Then, top with chopped apples, cinnamon, and chia seeds.

27. Pears and pistachios are two cholesterol-lowering foods. Spread goat cheese on a sliced pear and top with pitstachios for a sweet and crunchy snack.

28. Dip sweet and sour Granny Smith apples in creamy peanut butter (or nut butter) for a healthy snack that the whole family will love.

29. Enjoy a simple, nutritious soup for tonight’s dinner. Toss pears, butternut squash, leeks, and tomatoes, crushed garlic, and salt/pepper in olive oil. Roast until soft. Then, puree with vegetable stock and serve with crumbled feta cheese on top.

30. Any sweet tooth can be tamed with pears! For tonight’s dessert, try pear wedges with brie cheese and a drizzle of honey.

31. It’s Meatless Monday! Try these Spicy Wasabi Pear Lettuce Wraps (pictured above) for dinner tonight. Wasabi has many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects and cancer protection.

This was part of National Nutrition Month which happens every March!

 

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