Here in the Midwest, we love fall. And azure blue skies and stunning foliage come with a tradeoff—early sunsets and dark, chilly mornings. The onset of autumn brings the convergence of nature’s summer heat (Pitta) and its fall energy (Vata). It can leave you feeling depleted, tired and restless.
Intuitively, you might feel it’s time to change-up your diet a bit. Breakfast is a great place to start. If the prospect of pouring cold milk on cereal, blending a frozen smoothie or mixing a handful of berries into a refrigerated yogurt doesn’t seem satisfying enough, your body is telling you something. It might be time to warm up your morning.
Nature tends to give us what we need for alignment. Sweet apples are a perfect example. They are a fall harvested crop and generally abundant this time of year. In Ayurveda, a sweet flavor calms the heat of Pitta and grounds the upheaval Vata can create. When cooked and dusted with a warming spice, sweet apples are the perfect start to a brisk fall day.
Preparation is fast and easy:
- Peel and core 1 or 2 apples (Note: It is always a good idea to peel an apple before eating. Even “organic” apples are sprayed with chemicals you might not want to ingest.)
- Place in a sauce pan with about 1/3 cup of water
- Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to a simmer for 10 to 15 minutes (while you grab your shower!)
- Remove and top off with a treat. A freshly grated cinnamon stick, a dusting of ground cinnamon or even a sprinkle of a raw sugar, such as raw turbinado, is a wonderful addition
- Enjoy eating (yum!) or package them in a thermos to-go if your hunger doesn’t surface until mid-morning
If you are a typically a light morning eater, this should be very satisfying. But if you need something a bit more substantial in the morning, here are a few great add-ons:
- Cook the apples with oatmeal (ideally, fiber-rich steel cut oats)
- Cook the apples with some chopped-up dates, which are very high in mineral content
- After cooking, top the apples with a teaspoon of oil (ghee, olive oil, etc.) to increase your digestive content
Simple. Delicious. Nutritious.
Since the Ayureka credo is to improve your wellbeing while supporting the economic health of your local community and the vitality of Mother Earth, we always suggest looking for a locally grown food source. For sweet apples, think about making a visit to your local orchard or farmer’s market. While there, select a sweet variety of apple common to your region. (And, of course, any plant grown using organic and sustainable growing practices is best for your personal health.)
Are you doing something interesting with this year’s sweet apples? Tell us about it!
