Have Yourself a Pear-y Little Christmas!

By Kayley George, RDN, LD

December is National Pear Month! All ten varieties of pears are in season this time of year, so it’s the perfect time to enjoy this delicious fruit. Here are a few reasons pears are worth celebrating!

Pears are high in fiber.

One medium pear contains 6 grams of fiber, the highest fiber content of the 20 most popular fruits. Higher fiber diets have been associated with weight loss, lower risk and better control of diabetes, lower cholesterol, and healthy digestive tracts.

Pears contain are rich in antioxidants.

They are particularly high in vitamin K, vitamin C, and copper, which stop free radicals from damaging cells. Pears are also a good source of potassium, and contain smaller amounts of calcium, iron, and folate.

Pears are a versatile fruit that can be enjoyed in so many ways!

They are a great on-the-go snack, can be baked or poached as a tasty dessert, or used to dress up a pork or chicken entree.

Celebrate National Pear Month by enjoying some pears and trying new pear recipes. Here’s an easy baked pear recipe to get you started:

Cinnamon Baked Pears

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 4 ripe pears

• 1/2 c. melted butter

• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1 1/2 tsp. white sugar

• 1 c. old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1/4 c. brown sugar

• 1/2 c. finely chopped nuts

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• Pinch of salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400º. Halve pears and scoop out some of the center to fit the oatmeal crumble. Brush insides of pears with 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

• In a medium bowl, combine oats, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour remaining melted butter into bowl and combine until fully coated.

• Spoon into pear halves.

• Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until pears are soft.

• Serve warm.

For more guidance and help with planning a tailored diet for you (and for more pear-y good recipes), book a FREE discovery call with Kayley today!

Published on Dec 1, 2019 at 7:00 am