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Did we mention it only takes 15 minutes?

Try the skinny apple pie recipe below…

1. Don’t be flaky

To instantly slim-ify your pie, skip the crust – it’s little more than butter and flour. Instead, get your crunch from delicious oats, which research links to weight loss. Beta-glucan, a type of oat fibre, may also help ward off heart disease and diabetes.

2. Pick a better butter

The almond variety is rich in monounsaturated fats, the type associated with less belly blub. It also packs essential minerals such as magnesium, iron and calcium.

READ MORE: 6 Regular Foods You Probably Didn’t Know Could Shrink Your Tummy

3. Get fresh

Tinned apples have more added sugar than you may suspect – around 20g for a third of a cup (and who just eats a third?). It’s also nutritionally barren. A fresh Granny Smith, on the other hand, contains vitamin C and pectin, a compound that may help increase fullness.

4. Go coco-loco

The saturated fats in coconut are the kind you do want – they help burn flab and boost “good” cholesterol levels. The powerfood also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

5. Slash and burn

In a study, people who nibbled on small portions of snacks that were high in good fat ate far less overall than those who binged on unhealthy treats – and they reported feeling just as satisfied afterwards.

READ MORE: 5 Speedy Detox Lunches That Taste Amazing Hot Or Cold

What you need

4 tbsp almond butter
½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup chopped almonds and walnuts
¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 tbsp honey 2 tsp cinnamon, divided
1 Granny Smith apple
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cardamom
2 tsp lemon juice

Method

1. Preheat oven to 190°C. Place one tablespoon almond butter in each of four 170g ramekins or custard cups.
2. In a bowl, combine oats, nuts, coconut,honey and one teaspoon of the cinnamon.
3. Wash, core and dice the apple. In a separate bowl, mix apple with remaining cinnamon, other spices and lemon juice.
4. Divide apple pieces among ramekins, then top with oat mixture. Bake for 15 minutes.

SERVES 4. Per serving: 1090kJ, 17g fat (4.5g sat), 23g carbs, 10g sugar, 40mg sodium, 5g fibre, 7g protein

Try these 4 delicious desk lunches that don’t involve bread. Plus: 6 wintry oat recipes that’ll kickstart your day!