By Deirdre Parker Smith

deirdre.smith@salisburypost.com

Now that the weather is less punishing, you’re ready to get back to running in preparation for the food-centric holidays of Halloween, thanksgiving and Christmas.

In a short article from The Daily Independent in Ashland, Ky., bananas top the list for managing protein metabolism, and you can eat a banana before, during or after exercise.

Try carrots, which are filling but lower in calories.

The article says runners love chocolate milk, served cold, to stay hydrated and get protein and carbohydrates. The calcium for bones is a plus.

Dried apricots are low fat and high in carbohydrates, with a decent amount of fiber and potassium.

Rice cakes with peanut butter provide protein and healthy fat, with carbohydrates.

Unbuttered popcorn is low in calories and filling, perfect to satisfy a craving.

Now get out there and move!

Easy cookie

Speaking of bananas, here’s a recipe for a gluten and sugar free vegan cookie that has just two ingredients. This one comes from Pure Ella:

Two Ingredient Cookies

• 2 very ripe organic

   medium bananas

• 1 cup gluten-free certified

   rolled oats.

• Possible add-ins: 1/4 cup

   dark chocolate chips,

   dried fruit or nuts,

   sunflower seeds or

   a teaspoons of ground

   cinnamon.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prep a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a bowl, squish the bananas with a fork, add oats and continue mixing until both ingredients are fully incorporated.

Scoop about a tablespoons of batter per cookie. Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until golden.

Remove from oven and allow to fully cool before serving, about 30 minutes.

Halloween

Don’t know how we got stuck on bananas, but here’s another variation on the theme:

Del Monte Fresh Produce is kicking off its fifth annual “Go Bananas! Halloween Costume Giveaway.”

The contest will randomly select 1,000 fans to win Del Monte branded banana costumes. It’s all to promote healthy eating, of course.

All you have to do is go to www.freshhalloween.com to enter. You can earn five additional entries by taking a photos of yourself as a banana using a template at the website.

But hurry! the promotion ends Sept. 30.

Toast to fall

Fall starts Thursday, believe it or not. To celebrate, make yourself an Apple Cider Mimosa.

The ingredients are easy to find and the drink will be both refreshing and fall-like.

Apple Cider Mimosa

• 1 cup apple cider

• 1 bottle champagne

• 2 Tbsp. sugar

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

On a small plate, combine sugar and cinnamon. Dip champagne flutes in water to wet the rims, then dip in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Fill champagne flutes one-quarter full with apple cider, then top with champagne,

Garnish with a fresh apple slice.