Wellness

@ Moraine Valley

fall

Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

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Season pumpkin seeds with almost anything from your spice cabinet. Boiling the seeds in salted water for 5 minutes before roasting helps to clean and season them. Before baking, pat the boiled seeds very dry otherwise they will not brown or crisp. Makes 1 1/2 cups

Directions

Instructions Checklist

  • Step 1: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
  • Step 2: Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown; stir occasionally.
  • Jazz it up a bit and play with some other spices such as garlic powder, curry, and more. Check this link out for more recipes: https://wholefully.com/roasted-pumpkin-seeds-six-ways/

Happy Halloween!

Kelly Devine Rickert

Healthy Fall Snacks!

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Try some of my fall favorite snacks!

Pumpkin Dip for Apples

Pumpkin peanut butter dip for apples
Ingredients:
1/2 can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup packed brown sugar (I use Splenda)
1/4 cup smooth peanut or almond butter

Roasted pumpkin seeds: Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, and add a layer of pumpkin seeds. Sprinkle the seeds with a dash of sea salt, and then roast them at 325 F for about 25 minutes, or until toasted.

– Popcorn: Place kernels in paper lunch bag, spray with olive oil cooking spray, fold down top of bag two times and microwave on popcorn setting. Add some fall spices to spruce your popcorn up! (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and ginger).

– Honey Crisp apple and slice of cheese

– Thomas’ Pumpkin Spice English Muffins with natural almond butter or peanut butter. Try to limit the topping to one tablespoon.

For nutrition/exercise questions or for more tip ideas, email Kelly at
Kelly Devine Rickert, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN, CPT
Moraine Valley Wellness Coordinator

Apple, Apples, and More Apples. It’s Apple Season!

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The 10 Best Orchards To Pick Apples Near Chicago - Care.com

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Although this common saying may not be entirely true, it is true that apples are healthy for you.

Fun apple facts:
– Apples really pack a vitamin C punch. The antioxidant power of that apple is equal to more than 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C.
– Apples also contain pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower blood cholesterol. Since apples are high in fiber, they help to feel that full sensation in your stomach.
– Fruit consumption has also been linked to cancer prevention and lower weights.
– There are about 2,500 known varieties of apples grown in the United States alone! (Who knew?!?)
– Apples are best stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Ways to add some apples into your diet:
-Apple & peanut butter
-Chopped apple in green salads or fruit salads.
-My Favorite! Bake apples with cinnamon,a small amount of brown sugar and a sprinkle of oats (Heat in oven for 20-30 min at 350 degrees).
-Cooked apples with vegetables such as carrots, winter squash and sweet potatoes can make vegetables a bit sweeter.

Where can you find apples?
Apples go out of season by early winter, so pick some today!

County Line Orchard in Hobart

Garwood Orchard in LaPorte, IN

Prairie Sky Orchard, Union IL

Apple Holler, WI

Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard