Eco/Sustainable | Amber Keinath

I love the fall season! That crisp morning air that you wake up to just makes things feel so fresh!

My favorite thing about the fall season is that it is apple picking time!

There are so many different types of apples! It is estimated that there are over 2500 different types that are grown in the US and apples are grown in every state! This means there are tons to choose from and there is most likely an apple orchard near you to get in on this awesome healthy annual tradition!

What are the health benefits of apples?

They are high in antioxidants which helps protect against many different diseases such as cancer!
A full cup of cut up apples is only 84 calories! What a way to cut calories and not be hungry!
They have zero fat, cholesterol, and sodium!
They many help kids with asthma have less issues with wheezing.
They may help keep bones strong and protect against alzheimers!

My apple picking experience:

When I was growing up, apple picking was a great activity that I enjoyed in the fall season. My family would pile into the van and drive the half hour up the mountain to where the closest apple orchard was.

I remember thinking how much fun it was to grab one of my favorite fruits right off the tree and learn where food actually comes from!

As you can probably tell from my blog, I have developed a great passion for helping people learn to make healthier choices with a focus on getting back to the basics of where our food comes from.

Apple picking is a great activity for your family. Teach your kids where there food actually comes from (and that isn’t the grocery store) and give them some awesome childhood memories of family activities!

Don’t let your kids in on this: by taking them to farms and participating in picking food, you are giving your kids a taste for healthful eating habits that will follow them into adulthood! Start your kids early on the healthy path!

I hadn’t been apple picking in many years but have wanted to go every fall. This year, I made the request to my husband, and we piled into our little car and made the half hour trip across the Mississippi River into Illinois to a huge apple orchard (it did make me miss my California mountains) to create memories of our own.

When we arrived at the orchard, we hopped a ride on a tractor trailer up to where the apples were ripe. It is so much fun just walking in between the rows of apple trees and taking in the beauty of fruit hanging on the tree and the ability to walk right up, pick an apple, and eat it. (apples were all you can eat for FREE!)

This is the way food should be: in its natural state, manually picking it at its peak ripeness and nutrient quality, and none of that wax stuff they use to make the apples in the grocery store so shiny!

So after filling up on apples, and figuring out which type of apples we wanted to take home, we started the hunt for the “perfect” apples. We ended up with a little golden delicious and a little red delicious (I mean, there are only 2 of us). We then walked over to the pumpkin patch and proceeded to find the perfect little round pumpkins. Did I mention I love fall?

We then hopped back on the tractor trailer and made it back to the beginning with great fresh and nutrient dense apples and a great afternoon of apple picking memories! Afterwards, my husband (he had never been apple picking before) asked if we can come back next week. He actually had a lot of fun!

Many apple orchards also have lots of family related activities for kids. There is just so much fun and excitement going on with a little bit of food education for your kids that your family will find a new fall annual tradition!

So what are some tips for great apple picking?

Ask the farmer which apples are ripe because they determine it by number of days since the tree flowered.
Choose fruit that is firm and free from bruises.
Apples range with so many different colors that the best way to determine if an apple is ripe by how crisp and firm it is.
There are so many different uses for apples from eating them fresh or baking, cooking, or storing them that its important to determine which apples will work best for your purpose!
There are so many different varieties to choose from so taste test! This is a great time to figure out your favorite without having to pay the grocery store price.
Most important: have fun!

Have you ever gone apple picking with your family? What are some other fall traditions your family has? Leave me a comment below and let me know! Don’t forget to share the love by sharing this post with your friends!

To your health journey success,

P.S. If you are ready to learn more about how to create a life of health and wellness, join me by Clicking Here! Find and connect with me on my Facebook fan page and on Twitter!

Spring is in full swing with summer fast approaching which means Farmer’s Markets are OPEN!

There are many benefits to shopping for your produce at Farmer’s Markets:

Variety. Farmer’s Markets provide a variety of fresh food that is currently in season from meats to fruits vegetables to bread. You name it and your local Farmer’s Market probably has a lot of different foods to choose from and experiment with.
Less Food Miles. Most of the produce that is found in your local grocery store has traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles before coming to your grocery store. This can affect the overall nutrient content of the produce and you probably do not know where it came from in the first place.
Higher Nutrient Content. Recent research studies have shown that produce from your local Farmer’s Market compared with the same type of produce in the grocery store have a higher nutrient value. This can stem from the fact that the produce in your grocery store was picked before its peak, sprayed with chemicals to ripen it, and traveled a ton of miles before coming to you.
Organic. A great majority of the produce at Farmer’s Markets were grown locally by the farmers using organic conditions but who are not necessary certified organic. And yes, there is a difference in nutrient content from organic to traditional as recent research studies have determined.
Save $$$. Farmer’s Markets allow you to usually spend less on the produce than in your grocery store.

Overall, Farmer’s Markets typically provide produce that have a high nutrient content, traveled less food miles, and at a lower price. Plus you will know where you food comes from! All this adds up to a Healthier and Wealthier YOU!

So, support your local Farmer’s Market and support your own community.

To your health and success,

P.S. If you are ready to learn more about how to build your network marketing business by generating FREE leads using online marketing strategies, check out this FREE training I have for you! Click Here! Find and connect with me on my Facebook fan page and on Twitter!