These healthy stuffed baked apples can be made in the toaster/convection oven and are the PERFECT dessert when you want a treat this fall, but want to stay on track!
Sharing this post with you today is kind of torture. Why? Well, first, because peer pressure has made me opt into the DTFN summer slim down challenge which is basically designed to hack away at sugar cravings.
All the other coaches are doing it, and though I originally was not going to join in, all their texts in our group chat sucked me. Plus, when I mentioned it to Mr. Hungry he was all in so then I felt like I had too.
While we aren’t following the actual meal plan template, we are trying to abide by most of the rules. (It’s too hard to follow the template since has dietary restrictions and I need to make sure I’m seed cycling for hormone balance aka eating oats in the morning.)
The first week limits added sugars and sticks to unrefined whole grain carbohydrates such as quinoa, rice, etc…. So now you know that this post makes me want to make a stuffed baked apple and if I want to follow the plan, then this wouldn’t cut it.
Here is the thing, I don’t like diets and I don’t like being told what I can eat or not. Actually, I don’t like being told anything, but I’ll leave that discussion for my therapist and not for the internet.
Anyways, I follow an intuitive eating approach and aim to eat protein and produce at as many meals as possible. So I kind of had to approach this whole “sugar challenge” in an entirely different mindset.
Instead, I think about what I’m going to choose instead of other things, I reflect on the alternatives and don’t dwell on restriction. I remind myself this is a challenge to myself but if at any point I feel it is making me too obsessed with food then I’ll just go back to my usual routine, no harm no foul. I think it’s okay though, I’ve mentioned this before but with intuitive eating, there aren’t any foods (except coffee) that I feel like I wouldn’t be okay with getting rid of.
The second reason sharing this post is torture is because I had dental work done on Monday. If you’ve been following HH for a while, you know how much I despise the dentist. It takes the maximum legal amount of anesthetic to get me numb.
This time he had to put a hole in my jaw to inject more numbing agent. It sucks, and you know what? All I really want is a pint of halo top or real ice cream to eat for dinner. You feel me girl?
They have to inject so much to get me numb that I’m then numb for like 12 hours afterward. It’s Day 1 of the challenge, so I’m still committed despite feeling sorry for myself and wanting ice cream, I made a smoothie instead.
Granted I broke some of the rules in the smoothie, but the addition of spinach evens that out right? #balance My point is, food “rules” and challenges can sometimes help us out but I think it’s all in how we approach it.
Mr. Hungry binged on sweets on Sunday night, and my guess is he will do it again at the end of the challenge. I’m not judging, if he feels like he still gets something out of it, then good for him. For me though, I used to be an all or nothing person. Once I lightened up and let go of restriction, I found I could eat more things in reasonable moderate amounts. I find that to be a more realistic long term strategy.
Opting for healthy desserts like this one helps me feel like I’ve gotten a sweet treat but haven’t overindulged. That way when super indulgent treats come along I don’t feel the need to overdo it.
What about you guys? Have you ever done some kind of food challenge? What was it? How did it go? Was it helpful or did you fall into the binge/restrict pattern?
Healthy Stuffed Baked Apples
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Healthy Stuffed Baked Apples
Ingredients
- 4 medium-size apples I used gala but anything will work
- 1/3 cup sunflower seed butter or other nut/seed butter
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup for vegan
- 10 tablespoons oats
Instructions
- Core the apples. I just used a knife and cut out the middle.
- Place the apples on a parchment lined the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of oats to the core of each apple, essentially creating a plug.
- Use the remaining oats, sun butter, and honey to create the filling by mixing together.
- Stuff each apple with a heaping tablespoon of filling. To garnish sprinkle with additional oats.
- Cover apples with foil and bake for 40-50 minutes on 350F.
- Once the apples are super tender, broil them for 1-2 minutes until the tops get crisp.
- Serve immediately!
Nutrition
Like healthy treats? Me too! Try one of these:
Dark Chocolate Chunk Blondies (Secret Ingredients)
