Try different types of apples to add variety to your weight-loss program.
An essential element of successful weight loss is a balanced diet that includes fruits. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, you need two to four servings of fruits per day. A serving of apples or grapes contains less than 100 calories, and they contain essential vitamins and nutrients. They are excellent sources of fiber, which helps move waste out of the intestinal tract. Apples and grapes are also rich in vitamin A, an antioxidant that fights disease and repairs skin cells. Apples and grapes can be consumed at every meal as part of a weight-loss program.
Instructions
1. Add to breakfast. You can add a cup of grapes or a small apple to any kind of breakfast, whether you eat cold or hot cereals. Eat your fruit separately or mix them with cereal or oatmeal. Instead of purchasing yogurt with fruit at the bottom, add fresh minced apples or small grapes to plain yogurt to cut some of the sugar.
2. Substitute for junk food. Reach for an apple or a handful of grapes instead of a candy bar or bag of potato chips. You reduce consumption of empty calories and drop excess pounds and inches. Apples and grapes fit in your purse, gym bag and desk drawer.
3. Freeze grapes. Frozen grapes serve as a low-calorie weight-loss sweet treat during the summer. To make frozen grapes, remove them from the stems, wash and place them in a bowl or plastic container. Grapes take about five hours to solidify. You can separate them into small plastic bags to make a serving size.
4. Eat in salad. Grapes and apples add color to a vegetable salad, as well as a sweet, tangy flavor. Cut apples into bite-size bits and use seedless grapes. Pick dark leafy greens as the foundation of the salad and add other ingredients to round it out. You can also add grapes and apples to a salad by picking a low-calorie fruit-flavored dressing.
5. Make your own fruit kabobs. Cut apples into pieces and place them on a skewer with grapes. You can eat your kabobs raw or grill them for a crunchy texture. Serve them for dessert instead of pies or cake.
6. Try different apple and grape varieties. According to the University of Illinois Extension, the produces more than 2,500 apple varieties, so you won't get bored with one or two kinds of apples. More than 20 grape varieties grow in the United States, although most are used for making wine.
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