Peanut Butter And Jelly Apples- Recipe!

It always seems that my breakfast the morning after a long run tends to be served on a plate rather than in a bowl.

Sometimes I have trouble recognizing the plate in front of me.

I don’t understand the correlation between running lots of miles and craving eggs but it happens to me often. This egg craving was extreme and intense and hit me well before breakfast even occurred. The craving set in late Saturday night after dinner so I knew a plate of eggs and toast would be happening first thing yesterday morning.

To my surprise, I actually really enjoyed this breakfast beyond just a satisfied-craving feeling so I am hoping to crave this plate again soon.

My only issue is that I don’t think eggs are proper pre-run fuel for me on a regular basis.

Key words here – FOR ME.

Everyone is different. What I eat and when I eat it may be different from what you choose for your meals. What works for me before and after a run, may not be what works for you.

You know what doesn’t work for me before a run?

Crazy, right? I love my apples dearly but I cannot eat them before running. They just don’t sit well in my stomach before a run nor do I find that I have the same energy as I do when I consume a banana or oatmeal mixed with berries.

But I love apples. And I eat AT LEAST one a day.

Do you eat apples? OK, but do you eat them on a regular basis? Well, you should.

Apples are loaded with quercetin, a flavonoid that is rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and heart protecting properties and regular consumption can help decrease the risk of cancers and chronic diseases.

If this isn’t enough reason to eat your apple a day, according to a recent article in Runner’s World, apples have been linked to improving running performance.

Click here to read how quercetin may affect the oxidation process in muscles which may lead to fitness gains as well as the possibility of reducing muscle damage and soreness and improving strength and neuromuscular function.

I certainly didn’t need any influence in the apple eating department but this article is all the more reason to keep up my daily habit.

Lately though I have gotten creative and have taken my favorite apple with peanut butter to the next level.

Meet my newest anytime meal – peanut butter and jelly apples.

Oh yes.

This snack is so good and packed with nutrients that it can pass as a snack, dessert, breakfast, lunch or any meal you wish to call it.

Remember my Very Cherry Berry blend of frozen berries? The sweet and healthy genius that I am decided to mix in some Chocolate PB2 once the berries defrosted a bit.

A tablespoon of Chocolate PB2 simply mixed into the slightly defrosted berries created a thickened sweet sauce that was so decadent and delicious (YET COMPLETELY GUILT-FREE) that I didn’t know what to do with myself.

It isn’t very pretty but who cares? Your stomach doesn’t have eyes.

Once I regained my composure, I came up with a plan.

I used my will power to hold off  eating the mixture with a spoon while I diced up an apple, sprinkled it with cinnamon, warmed it in the microwave for one minute and then, topped off the apple with the berry blend.

Uh huh.

And then, to sweeten the plate some more, added Crunch Time peanut butter to various spots around the plate.

Voila. Peanut butter and jelly apples.

You can easily stop here and dig in, or, you can add a dollop of greek yogurt on top. Or granola. Or both.

Fruit, protein, healthy fats, complex carbs and a dose of calcium (if you add the yogurt).

I don’t plan on stopping at just peanut butter and jelly apples now that I have discovered this guilt-free and delicious berry/PB2 mixture.

I think the berry mixture would be great loaded into a pie crust, used as a base for a fruit crisp, on top of frozen yogurt, mixed into brownies, muffins, on top of waffles, pancakes, french toast, breads….THE POSSBILTIES ARE ENDLESS.

Shouldn’t everything in life be this simple and guilt-free?

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I NEED TO KNOW:

What do you crave after running or after a hard workout?

What do you like to eat before you run?

Do you eat apples on a regular basis?

Favorite healthy dessert?