Hi friends! My name is Luisa, and I’m a registered dietitian and the blogger behind Peaches to Pearls. I get to share a deliciously nutritious recipe to celebrate National Nutrition Month. This is a super easy recipe that I make for my whole family. They love it because the fruit and honey perfectly sweeten it, and I love it because it’s packed with protein and fiber. Speaking of fiber, that is the nutrient I want to focus on for today. Most people know what fiber is but do not know what it does in our bodies. Let’s dive right in!
Fiber
By definition, fiber is a type of non-digestible carbohydrate found only in plant-based foods we eat. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends consuming about 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you consume daily. This translates to roughly 24 grams of fiber for women and 38 grams for men. Unfortunately, most people do not get remotely enough fiber in their daily diets.
Now, let’s talk about why fiber is so important. Fiber plays many vital roles in our bodies. A few include helping slow the release of sugar into our bloodstream, helping regulate cholesterol, and helping to promote digestive health by attracting water into the intestines, which prevents constipation. Research also shows that increasing fiber can lead to potential weight loss.
Hopefully, you are wondering HOW I can add more fiber to my daily diet by now. My friend, the answer is relatively straightforward: eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. For example, adding one pear to your breakfast increases your fiber intake by 6 grams. That is about 20% of your daily recommended value. When grocery shopping, focus on purchasing foods with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving. You will be surprised how quickly you can meet your daily goal by adding 1-2 fruits or vegetables to every meal.
Cinnamon Apple & Pear Yogurt Bowls
This recipe uses Superfresh D'Anjou pears, Autumn Glory apples, and Cosmic Crisp apples. Creating a delicious flavor combo!
Recipe Tips
As mentioned above, this is one of my family's favorite recipes. It can quickly be served as a snack or made for breakfast. I recommend leaving the skin on the pears and apples when preparing this recipe. The skin contains the majority of the fiber and flavorful oils. And since you are heating them, the skin will soften and be easy to eat.
Ingredients
- 1 D’Anjou Pear, diced
- 1 Cosmic Crisp Apple, diced
- 1 Autumn Glory Apple, diced
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 8 ounces of fat Greek Yogurt
- ¼ cup Granola
- ½ tablespoon Cinnamon
- Honey,
Directions
- Wash and dice pears and apples. Leave the skin on for more flavor and fiber.
- In a small skillet or pan, lightly brown butter. Add diced pears and apples. Cook for approximately 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and stir. Remove from heat.
- Add 4 ounces of Greek yogurt in small bowls, then top with pears, apples, and granola.
- Drizzle honey.
Bon appétit!
This guest blog post was written by Luisa Hammett of Peaches to Pearls for Superfresh Growers in honor of National Nutrition Month.
