I Ate An Apple A Day For A Year: Here’s What Happened

It was my New Year’s resolution to kick off 2014. I did not miss a beat. Sometimes, I had two. A few times, I’d substitute with apple juice or apple pie. In the last stretch now, I do not like them any more or any less. Here’s what else I learned:

There are so many types of this particular fruit. It’s not my favorite, as I’d rather have bananas or peaches but that was the whole point. I grew up on Fuji. My first one was a Macintosh, as I was driving through Mountain View, California near the headquarters of Apple, Inc. Pink ladies are cute, too but I’m not a fan of the Granny Smith greens. If we are what we eat, I’m mostly red delicious.

As the old saying goes, maybe an apple a day really does keep the doctor away. I didn’t get sick because I was making a conscious decision to take better care of myself. But despite filling up with some fiber, I didn’t lose weight either. Fruits are packed with sugar so they could (read: should) substitute for dessert.

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(An apple grows in India.)

You really can eat an apple anywhere. I traveled a bunch this year. I found it’s easy to pack the fruit and it’ll keep longer when wrapped in foil. You can easily add apples to any meals to get your fix at any time of day.

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(Gettin’ creative with the posts.)

Technology helped me keep track and keep up to date with my goal. It was a conscious decision to document it all on Instagram, which I’m on all the time anyway. Early on, I realized I was getting bored of uploading the same types of pictures. The apple became my Flat Stanley of sorts and I got lots of encouraging comments! People would tag me with their own #appleaday #koresolution2014. I would get video links of apples being used as a trade ban, or interesting ways to get to the core.

The process became symbolic. An apple might turn into one positive thought or one bold move or one promise to keep. Every Lent I try to add or give up something. Over the course of 365 days (almost there!), I am really proud of myself.

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(Sometimes, I’d have seasonal cider instead of a full-on regular apple.)

All the small everyday checkmarks makes it feel like a bigger accomplishment. Overall, I took a bunch of leaps and risks this year – this challenge was constant and bite-sized. So, I ask you: what can you focus on for a few minutes everyday? Here’s proof it’s possible to remember to do something – whether it’s create a poem or smile or stop smoking if you set your mind and iPhone to it.

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(And what a year it’s been!)

Some extra food for thought? I need to eat more veggies next year. And I will be less obsessive on social media. After all the apples, the turn of the new year is an opportunity for a clean slate of new growth.