Making the Most of Summer Fruits

This article from LifeScript caught my eye - my taste buds rather - and I just had to post it for you all to enjoy. I love fruits and the weather in my area has been absolutely gorgeous...it always makes me want fruit so here you go...enjoy!

One of the pleasures of summer is the cornucopia of ripe summer fruits. These savory nutrition powerhouses have few calories, almost no fat, and are chockfull of vitamins, phytonutrients and fiber. The fiber in fruits helps to lower cholesterol and keeps the digestive tract running smoothly. Filling up on plant-based foods during the summer is a great way to cut down on fat and calories and jump-start any healthy eating plan.

Studies show that Americans typically eat less than one and a half servings of fruit a day. Medical experts, such as the LifeScript Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, encourage you to eat two to four servings of a variety of fruits each day. Filling your meal plan with lots of great-tasting fruits, like juicy peaches and fragrant cantaloupe, can be easier than you may think. Begin by adding bananas or fresh berries to cereal and pancakes at breakfast, and wash it down with a six-ounce glass of 100 percent fruit juice. Next, you can add a fruit bowl to the dinner table to encourage healthy snacking. Children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they see their parents enjoying the produce daily and if there is a plentiful supply in the house.

Here are some tips that can fit any family's hectic lifestyle.

• Aim for two to four servings of fruit a day. A serving is considered to be a medium apple, peach, pear, banana, orange, or two medium plums or tangerines, 1/3 cantaloupe, 1/8 honeydew melon, 15 small grapes, 8 medium strawberries, ¾ cup blueberries or one cup of fruit cut up in large chunks.
• Buy only what fruits you can use within a few days. Select produce that is not bruised, shriveled or have visible mold.
• Eat one vitamin C-rich [i.e. citrus fruit or cantaloupe] and one vitamin A-rich fruit [i.e. apricot or nectarine] every day.
• Let fruit ripen at room temperature (placing fruit in a paper bag hastens the process). Wash well before eating and discard any bruised or moldy fruit.
• Refrigerate fruit salads until served.
• Choose pasteurized juices and ciders.
• Throw away cut produce that has not been kept refrigerated for four or more hours.
• Grill summer fruits! A skewer of hot, juicy, flavorful grilled vegetables or a fresh fruit kebob will be welcome at any backyard barbecue.

This summer LifeScript suggests that you add a variety of summer fruits to your daily routine. When it comes time to slip back into your fall wardrobe, you will be glad that you satisfied your sweet tooth with summer fruits.