Apple Pie in a Bowl

I’m a huge fan of LeafSide meal packs and one of my top favorite flavors is the Apple Cinnamon Crunch Sweet Stir Bowl. I eat it mostly for breakfast but I have been known to enjoy it later in the day too.

It is a 100% whole superfood plant-based meal and Certified Plantricious, non-GMO, vegan, and SOS (added salt, oil, sugar) free. It is minimally processed and freeze-dried whereby containing zero preservatives.

Modern freeze-drying starts with frozen produce which is put in a large vacuum chamber where the frozen water inside the food sublimates under controlled conditions. The resulting freeze-dried foods are lightweight, retain the original colors and tastes, don’t spoil for years, and, most importantly, they retain the macronutrients, micronutrients, and phytonutrients remarkably well.

Macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
Micronutrients: vitamins and minerals
Phytonutrients: carotenoids, ellagic acid, flavonoids, resveratrol, glucosinolates, phytoestrogens (more info)

Studies have shown that freeze-dried foods often retain over 90% of the original fresh food’s nutrition, much more than other drying techniques which usually damage micronutrients and phytonutrients as easily seen by the large changes in the food’s colors. Like frozen food, freeze-dried foods are first harvested at peak ripeness to have better taste and nutrients.

Here are the ingredients of the Apple Cinnamon Crunch Sweet Stir Bowl: organic gluten-free oats, organic Granny Smith apples, organic quinoa, organic dates, organic currants, bananas, raw macadamia nuts, organic blackberries, organic peas, organic kale, organic spinach, organic strawberries, organic flaxseeds, organic Ceylon cinnamon, organic porcini mushrooms, organic turmeric, organic black pepper, organic mustard seed, raw vanilla, organic herbs & spices, B12.

Seriously, when was the last time you consumed that many superfoods in one breakfast, in less than 10 minutes, for under $10?

I tried to pull out a bit of all the separate ingredients as photographed above. I did well with the oats, apples, quinoa, dates (I think), currants, bananas (I think…they looked like the dates), macadamia nuts, blackberries, peas, kale, spinach (sort of), strawberries, and then everything else basically all ground up together.

This meal’s ingredients supply you with healthful whole plant fats and whole naturally occuring sugars, no cholesterol, much fiber, and plentiful sources of Vitamin A, C, B12, B6, D, Magnesium, Selenium, Folate, Zinc, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium. The entire meal provides around 600 calories and can keep you going for 4-5 hours or serve two people with smaller appetites.

Additionally the organic kale provides sulforaphane which significantly improves our ability to detox carcinogens, decrease inflammation, and may combat brain inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, synaptic dysfunction, and help protect against cancer.

Preparation is so easy. Put the whole meal pack in a bowl, boil water, pour 1.5 cups of boiling water over the meal contents, cover, and consume!

The organic flaxseeds provide lignans which may reduce the risk of breast cancer, and prolong the life of those affected. Lignans may also slow the growth of prostate cancer and decrease cholesterol with daily consumption.

The organic porcini mushrooms provide ergothioneine which is a newly found antioxidant for which our cells have specific receptors. It may represent a new vitamin that can uniquely enter a cell’s nucleus and mitochondria, concentrating itself wherever there’s high oxidative stress, like the eyes.

I cover my bowl with a plate to allow all the freeze-dried ingredients to hydrate.

With thousands of studies, the organic turmeric has proven itself as one of the most powerful anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory substances known. It has also been shown to effectively treat rheumatoid arthritis better than the leading drug of choice, and may be effective against osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Paired with organic black pepper, turmeric’s beneficial capacities are amplified. (source)

If you’re a fan of Dr. Michael Greger and his Daily Dozen healthful eating approach, this one meal pack meets over 12 of his suggested 18 units. If you eat one of LeafSide’s savory meals on the same day as this Apple Cinnamon Crunch Sweet Stir Bowl, you will meet and exceed all of Dr. Greger’s 18 recommended units.

Can you see why I am such a fan of LeafSide meal packs? They help me eat well, live well, stay well, are affordable, require only my pantry (no fridge or freezer!), travel easily, and spare me any extra time in the kitchen. With LeafSide I feel like I have a superfood chef working for me! Try them out yourself by clicking HERE (affiliate link).