Jan 28, 2021

Consumers can choose apples to help stay within new dietary guidelines

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines were just released, and they focus on choosing healthy foods and beverages that are rich in nutrients, while staying within individual calorie limits.

Shari Steinbach, M.S., R.D. the current low intake of nutrient-rich foods and beverages has actually resulted in the underconsumption of some key nutrients and dietary components. Among these are calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamin D. She recommends carefully selecting the foods you add to each meal and snack to ensure important, health-promoting nutrients are included.

According to a news release, the Michigan Apple Committee works with Steinbach to communicate the health benefits of regular apple consumption.

“Making Michigan apples a regular part of your food choices is helping you increase your intake of two under consumed nutrients and dietary components – fiber and potassium! Michigan apples are also crunchy, sweet and satisfying,” said Steinbach.

Eating just one apple a day, with the skin, will provide an average of 4.5 grams of fiber and a tennis ball-sized apple contains only about 80 calories. In addition, an apple will provide approximately 180 mg of potassium. Additional health information can be found here.

 “Shari’s work has enabled us to effectively educate consumers and provide resources to our retail partners about the many important ways apples are beneficial to health. In addition, she provides useful tips for incorporating apples into meal plans in a friendly and straightforward way,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee.

Earlier this month, MAC released three new sections for their Retail Dietitian Kit that was initially published in 2018. Steinbach helped the Michigan Apple Committee create the kit, and its new sections, as a resource for retail dietitians to help them communicate the many dietary benefits of Michigan Apples. Steinbach tapped into her extensive experience as a former retail dietitian for Meijer and Spartan Stores to compile resources she knew Retail RDs would need and use. Everything from recipes, meal plans, social media posts and scripts for media outreach are included in the kit.

To request a hard copy or electronic copy, email [email protected].

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world.

For more information, visit here.