I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and trying to stay away from processed sugar, which we all know is unhealthy for you. If you do not eat processed, overly sugared foods for a while, fruit will taste incredibly sweet and better than candy.
Like the vegetables I talked about last month, fruit is low in fat, sodium and calories. Fruit has no cholesterol, and is a great source of potassium, vitamin C, dietary fiber and folic acid.
The recommended daily amount of fruit is 1½ to 2 cups, depending on your age, sex and the amount of physical activity you do. Some fruits are higher in sugar than others; bananas, oranges and peaches each have about 12-14g of sugar. If you are a diabetic be aware of your totals per serving.
Fresh fruit tastes amazing, especially at this time of year when we are able to pick it ourselves or buy it right after it has been picked.
Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are high in antioxidants. If you have an aversion to the texture of the berries, which a lot of people do, add them to your smoothies.
Fruit doesn’t have to always be eaten raw; you can grill, bake or broil it for variety. Apple season is coming up, a great time to make your own applesauce. When you make your own, you know that what you have added to it is healthy. Eat it all winter when it is hard to get fresh apples.
Have you ever tried grilling your fruit? It is fabulous! One of my favorites is grilled pineapple...like eating candy, so sweet and delicious. How about broiling half a grapefruit with a little cinnamon and a touch of honey?
Did you know that when the settlers first arrived in America, getting an orange for Christmas was a special gift? They savored this treat because fresh fruit was in rare supply at that point.
Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have the abundance of fresh produce.