A deliciously healthy treat for you and your nieces and nephews to enjoy this Auntie’s Day on July 28!

Makes four servings

This delicious snack takes minutes to make and is infused with luscious cream cheese, apples, raisins, and walnuts. It is perfect for a quick snack when your favorite nieces or nephews are visiting. If they are nut-free eaters, simply leave out the walnuts. You can make these sandwiches in advance or better yet, get the kids involved in helping you prepare the pitas. Growing up, all my best memories come from cooking with my aunt and grandmother. Minutes of preparation for a lifetime of memories...

Auntie’s Advice: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples provide a big dose of soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as a host of other benefits. The polyphenols found in apples are powerful cardiovascular guardians, also helping to protect growing (and adult) bodies from the oxidation of bad fats (think trans fats), while offering bold anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have also shown that apple’s phytonutrients and high fiber content help children maintain an even mood by preventing spikes in blood sugar.

Ingredients

¼ cup of cream cheese
2 teaspoons chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons raisins
4 tablespoons chopped apple
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 mini whole-wheat pitas

Directions

1. Mix cream cheese, walnuts, apple, raisins, and cinnamon in a bowl.
2. Stuff the resulting mixture into the pitas.
3. Yes, it’s that simple!

Dawn Lerman, Magnificent Mommies founder, MA, NYU LCAT, CH.H.C, AADP is a holistic health expert, certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and is a graduate of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Photo: Courtesy of A. Noelle
Published: July 23, 2013