No, we're not advocating for an apple pie eating binge after your next long run. Instead we've rounded up some of the tastiest, healthiest options from our favorite internet foodies that make use of this underrated fruit.
Not only are apples a great low-cal, carb-packed, pre-run treat, they're full of fiber and Vitamin C. These recipes are perfect for runners on-the-go this fall.
Apple Walnut Quinoa
Breakfast 1 of 7
You can't beat an early morning meal that's nutritious, hearty and takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Registered Dietician Kath Younger from Kath Eats swears by this delicious apple and quinoa combination. To make the most of this fibrous breakfast and stay sated all the way until lunch, add walnuts.
Ingredients:
● 2 Tbsp butter or coconut oil
● 2 medium apples, thinly sliced
● Zest and juice of 1 orange
● 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
● 3 cups water, for quinoa
● 1/2 tsp cinnamon
● 1/2 tsp kosher salt
● 1/4 cup walnut
Directions:
1. Melt coconut oil in a small saucepan on medium heat.
2. Add apple slices in a single layer. Sprinkle with cinnamon, half of the amount of orange zest, and juice.
3. Let the apples cook on medium or medium low heat until they begin to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Stir every so often to prevent burning.
4. Once the apples are mostly caramelized, add dry quinoa and toast for a minute.
5. Add water, salt and orange juice to the pot. Then bring heat to high to boil.
6. Reduce to simmer and cook until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
7. In a separate pan, toast walnuts until fragrant.
8. Garnish with the remaining orange zest and walnuts.
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Your Next RaceSpiralized Apple Slaw
Lunch 2 of 7
This fresh take on an old favorite is sure to liven up any lunch. Health Coach Brittany Mullins from Eating Bird Food is the mastermind behind these spiralized apple "noodles." The sweetness and acidity from the apples is complemented by its savory, easy-to-make dressing.
Ingredients:
● 1/2 small head of red cabbage, shredded or spiralized (about 3 cups)
● 1 large Fuji apple, spiralized
● 1 cup cooked quinoa
● 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
● 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
● 1/4 cup raisins
● 1/4 cup tahini
● 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
● 2 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
● 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
● 1 tsp sea salt
● 1 tsp pepper
● 3 Tbsp water
Directions:
1. Prepare the dressing by combining the tahini, apple cider vinegar, oil, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper and water into a small bowl and mixing until smooth.
2. Toss the cabbage, apple, quinoa, spinach, sunflower seeds and raisins in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to combine. Serve and enjoy.
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Your Next RacePre-Run Apple Chia Bars Recipe
Snack 3 of 7
Apple Chia Bars are a great way to fuel up before a run—or for an anytime snack. This treat first appeared on Run Eat Repeat from me, Monica Olivas, a holistic health coach and marathon runner.
Ingredients:
● 1/2 cup peanut butter
● 1/2 cup oats blended to flour
● 1/2 cup oats
● 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
● 1 egg
● 2 Tbsp chia seeds
● 1/2 heaping cup grated apple
● 1/2 tsp vanilla & baking soda
● 1/2 tsp salt
● add milk to make batter-like if it's too thick
● optional: cranberries or raisins for extra sweetness and chew
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grate apple to make a heaping 1/2 cup. My apple was very juicy, which added to the liquid in this recipe. If yours is dry you might want to add a splash of water or juice.
3. Mix wet ingredients. If the peanut butter is too thick nuke it for a few seconds to make it easier to stir.
4. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients.
5. Combine and pour into a well-greased square 8x8 baking pan. If the batter is too thick, splash some milk in until you get a batter-like consistency.
6. Bake until set about 20 minutes and let cool completely before cutting. Store in fridge.
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Your Next RaceEasy Apple "Doughnuts"
Snack 4 of 7
Healthy lifestyle expert Laura Fuentes knows that few things are better than your favorite nut butter sandwiched between two crisp apple slices. Calling them donuts makes it almost as good as the real thing. http://www.laurafuentes.com
Ingredients:
● Apples
● Nut butter
● Chocolate chips (white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark)
● Toppings of your choice
Directions:
1. Cut apple slices into ⅓ inch-thick slices.
2. With a round small cookie cutter or knife, remove the core.
3. Melt chocolate and nut butter (or nut-free butter for people with possible food allergies) in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds. Place apple slices onto wax paper and drizzle chocolate or nut butter on the fruit.
4. Top with favorite toppings.
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Your Next RaceEasy Apple Cider Donuts
Dessert 5 of 7
Looking for a baked delicacy? These real apple cider doughnuts by Jessica from Easy Living Today will conquer your sweet craving while being surprisingly healthy.
Ingredients
● ½ cup coconut flour
● ½ tsp cinnamon
● ½ tsp baking soda
● ⅛ tsp sea salt
● 2 eggs
● 2 Tbsp. pure & raw honey
● 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
● Vegetable oil, for frying.
● ½ cup warm all natural apple cider
Sugar Coating
● ½ cup coconut sugar
● 1 tbsp. cinnamon
Directions
1. If you have a doughnut maker, turn it on. If not, using a cast iron pan or frying pan, begin to heat your vegetable oil to about 375 degrees.
2. In a small bowl whisk together coconut flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt
3. In separate medium bowl whisk together the eggs, oil and honey
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to make a smooth dough
5. Add the warm apple cider to the bowl and mix until fully incorporated into the dough
6. Transfer the dough into a medium Ziplock bag, and cut a 3/4-inch hole in one corner to create a piping bag.
7. If you are using the doughnut maker, pipe the batter into it filling 2/3 of the way
8. Let cook for about 8-10 minutes. These will take a little longer than usual because the batter is more of a wet batter.
9. If frying your doughnuts, pipe the batter into the hot oil and allow the dough to cook until it is golden brown. Carefully remove from the oil using plastic tongs.
10. Allow the doughnuts to cool slightly while you prepare the sugar topping. Sift together the sugar and cinnamon until well mixed.
11. Toss the donuts in the cinnamon sugar mix
12. Let doughnuts cool on a wire rack
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Your Next RaceSimple Apple Crisp Recipe
Dessert 6 of 7
If you have a few less-than-perfect hanging around the fruit bowl, then get ready to make this apple crisp recipe by Tina Halpert, a personal trainer and author of Carrots N' Cake. Leave the skin on the apple to save time.
Ingredients:
● 4-5 medium apples (any kind will work, pears work too!)
● 1 stick of butter, softened
● 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
● 1/2 cup rolled oats
● 1/2 cup sugar
● 1/2 cup brown sugar
● Cinnamon
● Nutmeg (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice apples into small pieces. You don't need to worry about how the apple pieces look. The different size pieces fit together nicely once all of the ingredients bake together.
2. Sprinkle cinnamon all over the apples. Feel free to add some nutmeg if you like a little spice in your apple crisp.
3. Using a fork, combine flour, sugar, and butter (at room temperature) in a medium bowl. The mixture will begin to look lumpy. Make sure that the majority of the dry ingredients have combined with the butter.
4. Pour the flour-sugar-butter mixture over the apple slices.
5. Spread evenly all over and fill in around the apple slices.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the top becomes slightly crisp and apples are soft. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.
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