A Fall Favorite for Every Meal of the Day !

It's no coincidence that Fall and Food both start with "F" ! When I think of Fall I immediately think of all the wonderfully delicious Pumpkin flavored foods and drinks this season has to offer. If you have ever tried Starbucks pumpkin bread then I think you know just what I'm talking about. But if you have even more free time than me, I suggest you bake your own loaf of Pumpkin Bread, because there are so many delicious varieties to be had!

I didn't want to provide just another fall favorite involving pumpkin because well, just like avocado and toast (yes, avocado and toast), it does get pretty old after while. So for this post, I chose to pick my next favorite fall food and incorporate it into 4 dishes in one day.

DRUMB ROLL PLEASE . . . Apples ! Mmm I can smell the thanksgiving apple pie right now as I sit in my lecture about fats.lol

I can't say that I'll know exactly how fats are metabolized in the body at this moment, but I will be developing new recipes for Thanksgiving, and that sounds pretty good to me!

This post will provide you with a breakfast idea, lunch idea, dinner idea, and dessert idea for an entire day of healthy eats! I'm talking, incorporating the deliciously sweet taste of an apple into each meal to really provide a taste of Fall to your tastebuds. . .

Meal 1: Breakfast - "Apple Pie Cinnamon Overnight Oats"

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 Tablespoon Chia seeds

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any non-dairy milk of your liking)

2 teaspoons pure organic maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 apple chopped

1 small handful of raw unsalted nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc.)

Directions: Combine oats, chia seeds, almond milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon into a jar or cup of your liking. The cup and or jar just has to be large enough to incorporate all the ingredients into, and portable if you are looking to take these overnight oats with you on-the-go the next morning! Once all the ingredients are mixed together nicely feel free to add most of the chopped apples into the mixture, and possibly save some for a topping the next morning. I usually like to add toppings to my overnight oats so you can either chose to incorporate the raw nuts into the actual overnight oat mixture, or wait to use it on top.

Lastly, store the oats in the fridge over night.

~ Try adding a delicious nut butter on top the next morning for added protein, and healthy fats. This breakfast will give you all the fall feels, while giving you lasting energy all morning long Xo

Recipe link: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Apple-Pie-Overnight-Oats-38392543?crlt.pid=camp.5Rx0wqnvxkYs

Meal 2: Lunch - "Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad"

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked quinoa

1/2 cup red onions, diced

3/4 cup green apple, diced

1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced

1 cup chickpeas, drained

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

1 tsp fresh chives, chopped (save some for garnish)

1/3 cup homemade vinaigrette

Directions:

1. Place the quinoa in a large bowl and add the onions, green apple, bell pepper, chick peas, cranberries and walnuts.

2. Pour the homemade vinaigrette dressing over the quinoa salad and stir to combine.

3. Garnish with chives before serving.

4. This salad is good served at room temperature or chilled.

5. Enjoy!

Recipe link: http://www.primaverakitchen.com/cranberry-apple-quinoa-salad/

Meal 3: Dinner- "Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Brussel Sprouts"

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat and lightly pounded to a relatively even thickness

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

4 cloves minced garlic

2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided

4 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (quarter if very large), about 1 pound

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 medium red onion, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

1 medium Granny smith apple, peeled, cored and cut into rough 1-inch pieces (these pieces should be larger than the others)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Place the chicken breasts in a large, ziptop bag. Drizzle with 1 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, then add the garlic, 1 tablespoon rosemary, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Zip the bag tightly, then shake and rub the bag to coat the chicken in the oil and spices. Set aside while you chop the vegetables and apples, or refrigerate for up to 1 day.

3. Once chopped, place the Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, onion, and apple on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, then sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Toss to evenly coat, then spread into an even layer.

4. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on top of the apple and vegetables. Place in the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 160-165 degrees, about 18 - 22 minutes or until done. Once the chicken is cooked through, remove to a plate to rest and cover with foil to keep warm. Toss the apple and vegetables on the pan, then return the pan to the oven and continue baking until they are caramelized and tender, about 10-15 additional minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary. Serve warm with the rested chicken.

Recipe link: http://www.wellplated.com/sheet-pan-chicken-sweet-potatoes-apples-brussels-sprouts/

MEAL 4: Dessert - "Apple Sliced Dessert Nachos"

Ingredients:

2 Apples, sliced thinly (any type of apple will do)

1/4 cup nut butter (creamy almond butter or peanut butter will do)

1 large handful of dark chocolate morsels

1/3 cup lightly salted pretzels

3 T toasted unsweetened coconut shreds

2 T organic pure maple syrup

2 tsp ground cinnamon

NOTE: if this dessert is not naturally sweet enough from the apples themselves feel free to drizzle some delicious maple syrup on top! & if you still aren't satisfied with the sweetness a little cinnamon sugar or coconut sugar never hurt, just be mindful and adjust to your preference!

Directions: This delicious dessert is a one shot deal, and only involves one large plate to arrange all the apple slices and toppings on! Take your thinly sliced apple pieces and uniformly arrange them on a plate, for aesthetic appeal of course. Next, drizzle the creamy nut butter of your choosing on top, toss toasted coconut shreds, pretzels, and dark chocolate morsels as well. Lastly, drizzle on the maple syrup and sprinkle the cinnamon all over! Enjoy, because this is your last apple meal of the day . . .

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, and even better has sparked your interest for creating even more fall treats to share with your family at Thanksgiving. Pinterest is my favorite tool, along with cookbooks. So do some good ol' exploring, and I am sure you will find an array of delicious meals that provide you with both health and happiness this fall season !