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Fall flavors have officially taken over! With everything from spiced maple cakes to pumpkin spice lattes, it can be difficult to stay healthy. Dr. Saini and the rest of the team here at your Liverpool NY family dentistry want to share a few recipes with you that we have found to satisfy our fall flavor cravings and help us stay away from foods that are unhealthy for our teeth and gums.

Caramelized Spiced Pears

With bathing suit season behind us, fall is all about desserts. These caramelized spiced pears can satisfy your sweet tooth without causing damage to the rest of your teeth. They contain low sugar and can act as a great substitute for the plethora of cakes, breads, and cookies that will entice you this fall.

Ingredients: (serves 6)

• 3 (about 1 ½ pounds) ripe but firm pears, cut into ¼-inch slices
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons granulated or light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 pinch salt

Directions:

1. Toss pears with lemon juice in a medium bowl. Melt butter in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat; stir in pears. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Stir once halfway through.
2. While the pears are cooking, combine sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a small bowl. After 10 minutes, stir the mixture into the pears. Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until the pears are tender and glazed (approximately 4-6 minutes depending on the firmness of the pears).
3. Serve warm over plain yogurt.

Tangerine Pumpkins and Banana Ghosts

Halloween is hands down one of the most detrimental holidays for your children’s teeth. There seems to be endless amounts of sugar and chocolate constantly available for your kids to eat, and it can often be difficult to get your kids interested in healthier sweets. As your pediatric dentist Liverpool, NY, we are here to offer you a sweet and spooky alternative to sticky, sugary candy that is kid and teeth friendly!

What You’ll Need: (serves 4)

• 4 bananas
• 24 chocolate chips, regular sized and/or mini
• 4 tangerines
• 1 stalk celery

Directions:

1. Peel the bananas and cut them in half. Place the cut side down so the banana stands up.
2. Use small chocolate chips to make ghost eyes and large chocolate chips to make ghosts mouths.
3. Peel the tangerines.
4. Cut the celery lengthwise into thirds and then across into ½ inch pieces. Insert the celery pieces into the tops of the peeled tangerines to make them look like pumpkins.

Bundle Up and Enjoy The Fall!

We hope you enjoyed our healthy versions of fall and Halloween treats! If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about what foods to avoid in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums, give your Liverpool, NY dentist office a call and our friendly staff will be happy to help. If you feel you or your child is in need of our services, feel free to contact us! Happy fall!