In the thick of the ‘healthy post-holiday season,’ we are inundated with diet and weight loss suggestions.  While I’m all for getting on a healthy track, I  am not a fan of the yo-yo diets or starvation protocols floating around. In essence, they are unsustainable and they put our bodies through undue stress and confusion.  Instead, I opt for continuity by eating whole foods in their most natural state every day.  Easy enough, right?  Let’s explore…

I’m currently teaching a series of cooking classes to a group of San Francisco nurses.  They are participating in a 28-day detox program which incorporates organic foods and healthy fats.  Fats on a cleanse?  Yes, Virginia, fats are essential for our bodies to absorb nutrients and they don’t add extra pounds. We all know that weight management is about calories in, calories out.  Fats add up quickly, but I have found that a little bit goes a long way in keeping me satiated, therefore eating less. (Here’s my Sunday breakfast.  Notice the fats.)

In the winter months when days are shorter and colder,  our bodies require more insulation. We crave warm, hearty foods and extra time for rest and sleep.  If we deprive ourselves of these fundamentals, we are setting ourselves up for compromised immune systems and sluggish metabolism (as in the flu and weight gain.)  Maybe with age I have become more comfortable accepting this each January as I, too, find myself with that ’snug’ pair of jeans.

So this year I thought I’d make a little  ‘adjustment’ (vs. resolution or crash diet) and reduce one of my cravings which isn’t always healthy.  My issue is in the sweet category, in the form of wine and dessert (for those of you who don’t know, I’m married to the president of a winery so this is no easy feat.)  In order to be successful with this task, I made up a simple, seasonal dessert that is a warm, comfort food and satisfies my sweet tooth.

Baked Apples with Cinnamon – Serves 4

Keep the peels on the apples as they provide pectin, which helps lower cholesterol and regulates blood sugar.  Date sugar is 100% natural made from dates.  It is a tad less sweet than other brown sugars.  For more about alternative sweeteners, here’s a great summary from The Nourished Life.

1/4 cup apple juice or water
4 medium to large organic apples, cored and cut into 2′ pieces
2 TB date sugar
2 TB organic unsalted butter, cut into 1/2′pieces
4 TB homemade granola
4 TB plain organic yogurt
2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  Pour juice into 9×13 baking dish.
Toss apples in bowl with date sugar.  Place in baking dish and dot with butter.
Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until soft and golden brown.
Cool slightly and top each serving with 1 TB granola, yogurt and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.

>>Please remember to click on the title of this post (Naturally Sweet) to leave a comment where noted.