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Overwhelmed by all of the "Follow Friday" recommendations on Twitter? Each week AOL Health's Twitter alias Healthpop and That's_Fit search the Twittersphere for the greatest diet and fitness Twitterers, and each week, we'll highlight the best-of their best tweets (no Twits here). Got any great advice for our Fit Follow Friday post? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!

Welcome to Walking the Walk, a feature that takes a deeper look at commonly shared diet and fitness advice. Every other week, I'll choose one piece of advice and practice it for seven days. Then I'll report back on what I discovered about making it work in real life and how it affected my own personal fitness -- and how it ultimately can affect your own efforts.

A big, crunchy, juicy apple is the perfect snack to fill up on between meals. But did you know that eating an apple before a meal just might help you cut back on calories?

A 2007 study, out of Pennsylvania State University, found that when participants were given either fruit juice, one and a half peeled apples or applesauce 15 minutes before a meal, the people who ate the apple ate -- on average -- 187 fewer calories from their plates.

Apples have been shown to control blood sugar, but that's not the only thing going on here. Researchers believe that it's the volume of food -- whole fruit is more filling than applesauce or juice, for instance -- and the act of eating that helps keep hunger pangs at bay.

I'm going to put this theory to the test this week, eating an apple (with the peel -- more fiber and nutrition that way!) before each lunch and dinner.

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It's time to decide -- is this a healthy habit that can be realistically worked into day-to-day life?

• Piece of cake! I can definitely work this into my daily routine.
• Not my cup of tea. This is harder than I imagined. Still, I plan to stick with it and do my best.
• Nuts! This seems nearly impossible to keep up. But I'll definitely do it whenever possible.

Like I said on Day 7, this is an easy step anyone can take to help cut back on calories. I keep a food journal (most weeks) and definitely saw a decrease in the number of calories I was eating this week. The effect was especially noticeable at mealtime, but the apples helped me cut back on my between-meal snacking too. If I found myself getting hungry an hour before a meal, I'd just eat my apple then. I still saw the effects at mealtime, but it warded off a bigger calorie binge.

I don't think there's any magic to this. Apples are crunchy and sweet, so they go a long way towards curbing a sweet tooth and desire to snack. They're bulky enough to fill a belly up, so it's reasonable to suggest that eating one before a meal can control hunger. The trick is, I think, getting yourself to reach for one instead of a higher density snack -- like cookies, for instance. But that's a whole other post entirely.

Apples are one fruit still in the produce section of my supermarket. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, watermelon -- not so much. 'Tis the season for slim pickings when it comes to fresh fruit.

Apples aren't so bad. I really like them, actually -- they just usually take a back seat to my favorite berries when they're available -- so I figure it's high time I embrace apples, in of their multi-colored and flavored glory.

The experts at Woman's Day magazine say I should pick my own apples. Spend 30 minutes picking a basket of apples, they say, and I'll burn about 100 calories. Not incentive enough for you? How about this: Apples contain quercetin, an antioxidant that can ward off cancer, heart disease, and more.

Apples are looking tastier by the second. Don't you think? Check out this site for everything you need to know about apple picking.

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Alas, our farm days are over for this growing season. Our CSA farm closes up shop this week, a bit early due to the wet, wet summer; you should see the poor tomato plants. But the rain didn't ruin everything, as we have big, beautiful butternut squashes, just waiting to be cooked and gobbled up.

Butternut squash is loaded with vitamin A as beta carotene, vitamin C and fiber, along with B vitamins, so you really can't lose by making the most of your winter squash.

One of our favorite dishes is a simple pizza with tomato sauce, roasted butternut squash, shallots and sage leaves, topped with prosciutto and feta cheese. How's that for a fun way to eat your squash?

The almighty apple is always named as a great anywhere, anytime snack. Low in calories and high in fiber, you just can't go wrong with apples, say the nutrition experts at RealAge, especially if you want to lose weight.

Get your apple slicer ready -- you'll want to prepare a plate full of apple slices before your meals as you battle the bulge. Eating a bit of high-fiber food -- aha, the apple -- before each meal is a sure weight loss booster. That's what researchers say. In a study of women who ate fruit before meals and women who didn't, the fruit group lost more weight, even when following the same reduced-calorie diet as their non-fruit counterparts. Make sure you choose a fruit high in water content for best results -- like, yes, the apple.

And as you grab for that slicer, leave your peeler tucked away. If you skin your apple, you'll be losing some pretty good stuff, like cancer-fighting compounds called triterpenoids.

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It's that time of year ... early Fall, when apples abound, but warm enough that you can still grill without a parka. So what's this all mean to you? Another fabulously delicious recipe to make, which includes apples on your grill: Apple Halibut Kabobs.

Grilling is a healthy coop all to itself because you use so much less fat than you would if pan-frying or even oven roasting. Yes, healthy fats are good for us in moderation, but you'll get those in the halibut -- so grill while you still can.

You want more healthy reasons to make this recipe? How about the loads of vitamin C in the apples and peppers? The onions and thyme lend their own healthy benefits as well.

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Autumn's cooler weather may be starting to chill the air, but don't let it put a freeze on your fitness and nutrition habits. Enjoy the best autumn has to offer, healthfully.

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Sabrina Bryan, one-third of The Cheetah Girls recording act, really sets a positive, healthy role example for young girls. She's fit, toned, and at an appropriate weight. What's more, she clearly enjoys staying fit -- especially through one of her first loves ... dancing.

Bryan previously released a fitness DVD titled BYou. She shared a video of her top five fit tips with People Magazine:

• Do cardio. Bryan loves to dance, but any form of cardio you enjoy will do.
• Hit the dance floor. Even if it isn't your first choice of cardio, hit the dance floor and try different styles of dance, like Bryan did while on Dancing With the Stars.
• Try Pilates. Bryan does Pilates for strength and toning.
• Start swimming. Bryan recommends finding a pool or beach where you can swim outside in the sun.
• Eat healthy snacks. Her favorites include string cheese, apples, and almonds.

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My son started soccer practice last night and we were both so happy. There's a lull over the summer months where my son doesn't have any organized sports in season, and we both miss it terribly. But last night, I remembered what a time crunch it is planning for meals when there are practices to consider.

My son and I usually eat dinner at 7 p.m. -- smack in the middle of his soccer practice. It's too early for us to eat dinner before practice, so I like to make sure my son has a healthy snack before to keep him energized and curb his hunger during practice. We don't get too creative with the snacks, either. A piece of fruit -- usually an apple or a banana -- is my son's pre-practice snack of choice.

According to Healthcastle, the plain-Jane popular fruits pack a powerful nutritional punch. Check out the gallery to see the details.

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In my expert opinion, yes! Disney World is the healthiest place on earth. I just returned from a five-night, six-day vacation with my husband and two children and was blown away by the amount of physical activity both offered and required of ourselves in order to indulge in the full Disney experience.

We pushed our double-stroller miles through two theme parks, climbed thousands of stairs and jumped an equal amount of waves at two water-parks, danced our tushies off to live bands at various Disney resorts, and played game after game with our children as we giggled, oohed and ahhed at all the Disney magic. As a fitness trainer, one of my biggest obstacles is convincing my clients not to trash their fitness efforts when they head out on vacation. Disney offers the perfect opportunity to not only maintain one's fitness level, but improve it.

The physical adventures are endless, and Disney World has made a deliberate effort to increase the availability of legitimately nutritious, low fat, and lower sugar foods. Fruit stands have popped up all over the theme parks, and children's dining has switched from burgers and fries to grilled chicken with carrots and grapes offered as side dishes. Soda has been dumped for low fat milk! I can't get food that "clean" in my own neighborhood, unless I cook it myself! Of course, the old junkie favorites like popcorn, fries, and ice cream are still available, but if you do care about your health and want to maintain it on vacation ... Disney makes it easy.

Would you go organic if you could afford it? How about going half and half? If you do, here are eight items definitely worth the splurge: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, and lettuce.

Why?

Because these foods rank the highest in amount of pesticides used to grow them. Some of the lowest pesticide-treated foods are onions, avocado, frozen sweet corn, pineapple, mango, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, and kiwi.

For a full list, from most pesticides to least, check out foodnews.org.

Adding salt to your food is generally frowned upon--that dreaded sodium is no good for your body--but that doesn't mean you should throw out your salt shakers. According to Mark's Daily Apple, here are some interesting ways to use salt:

• In your shoes: Putting a pinch of salt in your shoes will help reduce odor. Who knew?
• On your hands: Mix some salt with white or malt vinegar and rub it in your hands to get rid of the smell of chopping garlic or onions.
  
• On your apples: Submerging apple slices in a solution of cold salt water will keep them from going brown without compromising taste.
  
• On bites: A paste of salt and water will help relieve itch and pain associated with bee strings and mosquito bites.
  
• In your coffee: A small pinch of salt will take away any bitter taste in your java.
  
  

There are lots more ways to use salt -- head over to Mark's Daily Apple for more great tips.

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At the grocery store today, I came across a sign the said, "Enjoy New Fit Apple," or something similar. I paused to take a look, because I was curious. Apples are pretty nutritious all on their own. Had someone really come up with a way to make them even healthier?

The product in question was the Grapple. It's essentially an apple that's infused with natural and artificial flavors to taste like a grape. On their website, they claim the most commonly asked question about their product is "How do you do it?" That's not my question at all. My question is:

Why do it at all?

Are apples not sweet enough already? Is it just too hard to buy grapes? Both are sweet, both are portable, both are easy to find on grocery store shelves. Why on Earth are we injecting artificial flavors into our fruit so that they can taste like other kinds of fruit?

Am I just missing the boat here? I'm sure they're tasty, but still...

Many people are making more of a push to go natural with their food these days. Organic brands are starting to fill up shopping carts in grocery stores around the country, but not everyone is sold on the idea just yet. For some, eating the way they do it's just a matter of choice, which, of course, is their prerogative. For others, they may want to make the switch to natural foods, but are unsure where to even start.

To help that lot along, this month's issue of Women's Health magazine offers some helpful tips, starting with knowing the truth behind some common foods.

Milk. A 2005 USDA study found pesticides in 27 percent of conventional milk samples.

Potatoes. The same 2005 USDA study found that 81 percent of non-organic spuds contain pesticides -- even after washing and peeling.

Peanut Butter. Non-organic brands use fungicides to combat peanut mold. The same fungicides have been shown to decrease fertility in mice.

Ketchup. Organic brands have 57 percent more lycopene than non-organic brands. This healthy antioxidant is a known fighter of cancer and heart disease.

Apples. Non-organics use pesticides that have been linked to developmental problems in children and altered hormone levels in adults.

How and what you choose to eat is entirely up to you and, quite frankly, is not deserving of judgment. But, it's still worth knowing the facts, isn't it?

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