Pears are perfectly in season this September, which provides a fantastic snack and meal option for families with picky-eaters. Not only do pears taste amazing, but because they are chalk full of vitamins, phytonutrients (nutrients that come from fruits and vegetables), and antioxidants they offer many significant health benefits!
Pears are a good source of:
Vitamin B2
Vitamin C
Copper
Pectin (water soluble fiber)
Potassium
These vitamins and minerals, in combination with a host of phytonutrients make pears an inflammation-fighting powerhouse that has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. With its mild taste and easy digestibility, pear is an outstanding choice for people of any age, even infants!
Here are some of our favorite, kid-friendly pear recipes for the whole family to enjoy:
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients –
4 pears, halved and skinned
4 tbsp. butter, melted
1/3-cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Baking Instructions –
Place pear halves in a baking dish
Brush pears generously with butter
Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon
Bake 10-12 minutes, or longer if pears have not warmed through
Serve and enjoy!
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25-35 minutes
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients –
2¼ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
Pinch of nutmeg
½ tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1¾-cup milk (or almond milk)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3-cup maple syrup
1 cup diced pears (about 1 pear)
Baking Instructions –
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F
Combine oats, spices, and baking powder in a mixing bowl
Beat the egg in a second bowl. Then stir in milk, vanilla, and syrup
Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold in the pears
Grease a square baking dish. Pour oatmeal into the baking dish and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until set and beginning to brown
Serve immediately, or let cool and cut into 6-8 pieces if you want to freeze them
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients –
1 can sliced pears, drained or 1 lb. of fresh pears sliced
1 can crescent roll dough
2 tsp. butter, melted
cinnamon sugar, to taste
Baking Instructions –
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Unroll crescent dough, separating into 8 triangles (keep matching pairs together)
Place 1 or 2 slices of pear in the center of one dough triangle
Cover with matching triangle and pinch closed along the edges
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have four turnovers
Brush melted butter over the tops and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar
Place turnovers on parchment paper and bake for 11-15 minutes, or until golden
Cool and serve!
Or, if you don’t feel like making anything, simply slice, serve, and eat! Mixing these healthful fruits into your family’s diet is a fantastic way to keep everybody healthy and happy.
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