Apples are a popular fruit, and nearly everyone loves this luscious, red fruit, especially youngsters. Apples are packed with minerals and vitamins making them a nutritious choice at all times. They contain minimal calories and are also known for their healing properties.
The adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is not far from the truth given the numerous benefits that this fruit has to offer, particularly for kids. Here are some advantages of including apples in your child’s daily diet.
Aside from the health benefits of apples, here are some interesting apple tree and apple fruit facts for kids.
A medium-sized apple has less than 100 calories and no fat, sodium, or cholesterol content. Take a look at the following chart for detailed information about the nutritive values of apples.
Amount per serving | Daily value % based on 2,000 calorie diet |
Total carbohydrates – 25 g | 8 % |
Dietary fibre – 4 g | 17% |
Sugars – 19 g | |
Vitamin A | 2% |
Vitamin C | 14% |
Calcium | 1% |
Iron | 1% |
Protein – 0 g | 0% |
Cholesterol – 0 mg | 0% |
Sodium – 0 mg | 0% |
Total fat – 0 g | 0% |
Besides eating apples raw, there are plenty of ways in which apples can be used to keep children interested in consuming at least a couple of servings of this fruit each day. Instead of just apple juice for kids, here are some recipes for you to try out:
Ingredients:
Method:
Take all the ingredients except two of the cookies in a blender and make it into a smoothie. Pour it into serving bowls and top off with remaining cookies. You can change the recipe to include your favourite flavour of ice cream and more cookies or apples depending on the child’s preference
Ingredients:
Method:
Core each of the apples and peel them about one-third of the way. Pour the apple juice or water into the bottom of the baking dish and then place each of the apples in this with the peeled side up. Pour about two tablespoons of jam into the centre of each apple. Cover the dish with plastic that has been pierced for vents or waxed paper. Bake in a microwave on high for about five minutes or till the apples become tender.
Ingredients:
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 375° and grease the baking dish. Then place the apples in the baking dish. Mix rest of the ingredients well in a bowl and then sprinkle this mixture over the apples. Bake it for 40 minutes or till the topping turns golden brown.
Ingredients:
Method:
Peel the squash and de-seed it before cutting into cubes. Core the apples, peel them, and cube. Place a large pot on the stove and melt the butter. Then add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent. Put in the curry powder and stir. Next, add squash, apples, stock, salt, and stir till it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for around two minutes. Check to see if squash and apples are tender. If not, boil for some more time. Puree this and then simmer again before adding pepper. Serve hot.
Usually available all year round, there are numerous varieties in the market, and each has a distinctive taste of its own. So, choose the ones that are a favourite with your children and encourage them to munch on one regularly. Apples that are eaten raw with the skin offer the most nutritive benefits, but for younger kids peeling is a good idea since pesticides might have been used and washing will not help clean it fully.
Disclaimer
This information is just a guide and not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified professional.