By Amy Rankin
An apple a day keeps the doctor – and fat! – away…
Say what? The theory goes: apples are high in pectin, which binds with water and limits the amount of fat your cells can absorb and store. Now that’s a good reason to whip up an apple crumble, right?
Another reason it can add to weight loss? Apples are packed with fibre and fibre slows down the digestive process, keeping us fuller for longer. In a study published in the journal Nutrition, scientists found that instructing participants to eat an apple before meals resulted in significant weight loss. Plus they’re packed with antioxidants, so go ahead and chomp one to boost your overall health.
Struggling to get your apples in? Make this pudding and feed it to the whole family – it’s so healthy, you could eat it for breakfast! Plus it’s gluten-free and if you swap out the honey for agave, it’s vegan too. I made this recipe using Fresh Earth’s granola, but you can always make your own delicious DIY granola at home.
Ingredients
5-7 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and sliced into moons
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cloves
Handful of pitted dates, chopped
350g packet Fresh Earth Gluten Free Granola with Honey
½ cup coconut oil, melted
2-3 tbsp honey or agave syrup (for vegan)
Method
1/ Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius.
2/ In a baking tray or tart tin, lay out apple slices in concentric circles, overlapping in layers.
3/ Sprinkle over spices and scatter chopped dates over.
4/ Mix granola with coconut oil and spoon over apples until completely covered. Cover the tart tin with foil and bake for 30 minutes or so, until apples are soft. Remove foil, drizzle honey or agave syrup over the granola and bake for a further 10 minutes until golden. Serve warm with a drizzle of coconut cream (optional).
Looking for more recipes? Check out this gluten-free crustless milk tart worth sharing. Plus: Fudgy brownies that’ll make your diet seem decadent.
