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Apple

Originally written by Kimberly Cripps , former SDSU Extension Family & Community Health Field Specialist, with contributions by Megan Erickson, former SDSU Extension Nutrition Field Specialist, and Hope Kleine, former SDSU Extension Health Education Field Specialist.

Pick it!

  • There are about 2500 varieties of apples with varying degrees of crispness and sweetness.
  • Look for smooth skin with bright coloring and no bruises or soft spots.
  • Keeping apples in a bag in the refrigerator or in the drawer help them last longer.
  • As apples ripen, they can cause other fruits and vegetables nearby to ripen, so check them often.

Try it!

  • Wash before eating. Use raw as a snack or in a sack lunch, sliced in salad. Bake into apple crisp or dried into apple chips.
  • Unsweetened applesauce with sweet apples: peel, core, and chop 4 apples. Simmer in a saucepan with 1⁄4-cup water and one lemon slice for 10 minutes. Stir often. Crush when soft. Add cinnamon and nutmeg.

Like it! Hurry Up Baked Apples

Ingredients

  • 2 medium-size tart apples (Granny Smith, Braeburn, Cortland, Jonathan, Fuji)
  • 1 tsp brown packed sugar
  • 1⁄4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 Tbls oatmeal
  • 2 Tbls raisins, chopped walnuts, or other nuts
  • 6-ounces low-fat vanilla yogurt

Directions

  1. Cut apples in half lengthwise.
  2. Remove cores and hollow out a space 1 inch or more.
  3. Arrange apple halves, cut sides up, in microwavable dish.
  4. Cut thin slices off bottoms to keep from tipping.
  5. Combine sugar, cinnamon, oatmeal, raisins, and nuts.
  6. Fill each apple half.
  7. Cover with plastic wrap.
  8. Fold back one edge 1⁄4 inch to vent steam.
  9. Microwave 3 to 3 1⁄2 minutes, or until apples can be cut easily.
  10. Remove and let sit a few minutes.
  11. Spoon yogurt over the top.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition Facts per Serving: Calories 120; Fat 2g; Cholesterol 5mg; Sodium 30mg; Carbs 26g; Fiber 3g; Sugars 20g; Protein 4g

Source: University of Illinois Extension

Program Materials

Colorful fact sheets, recipe cards and educational videos provide educators and families with fun, engaging tools to enhance any dietary curriculum in a variety of settings.

Quick resources are available in the fact sheets below. Download the zipped folder to use the lesson plan, sampling instructions, recipes and display materials in your educational program.