While in quarantine, most of us are probably asking ourselves countless times during the day, “What should I do now?” It can be stressful to constantly confront this question when our options are currently so limited.

Across the board, mental health practitioners advocate for daily routines. Maintaining predictability and self-organization helps us combat the thoughts and symptoms associated with the most prevalent mental health conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety, addiction, etc.). It gets us out of “our heads and feelings” and focused on the tasks in front of us.

With this in mind (no pun intended), 'Start Your Day Off With...' will be a series of posts that explore the best practices for starting your day off right. And our inaugural post qualifies the age-old adage, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Apples: What's So Good About Them Anyway?

Some fast facts about apples:

Not bad right?

How To Start Your Day Off With An Apple

Starting your day off with a healthy dose of fiber means setting yourself up for a day of healthy bowel movements. Double the impact in the morning by adding apples into your oatmeal. Also, since pectin keeps you full for longer, this is great for those who are currently trying to keep themselves from over-eating during the day. Don't get too carried away though, because it is recommended that you spread out your daily intake of fiber throughout the day.

If you prefer to juice your fruits and vegetables, keep in mind that the majority of the apple's beneficial nutrients are located in its skin. So blending it and putting it in a morning smoothie is recommended.

For individuals with sensitive digestive systems, a MORF favorite practice is an Ayurvedic recipe: stewed apples (and here's a recipe that we love).

Stewing apples helps make them more easily digestible and apples are recommended precisely for their fiber. Ayurveda treats the stomach as an internal fire and stewed apples are a gentle way of rekindling that fire in the morning. Once "fully lit," your stomach is prepared for whatever you throw its way.

How ever it is you choose to start your day, we can assure you that an apple won't steer you the wrong way.