As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. This is because apples and other kinds of fruit are an important part of a healthy diet.
You don’t have to have a degree in nutrition or medicine to know that consuming fruit is one of the most important aspects of living healthily. Humans and other animals rely on fruit to survive, and have been doing so for millions of years. But sadly, in today’s fast-food world, fruit is sometimes left out of our eating schedules.
If you aren’t eating enough fruit, consider these key reasons why you should add them to your diet. It’s not just that most varieties of fruit are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories—they’re also high in a number of important nutrients like potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and folic acid. Potassium alone is extremely important to maintain healthy blood pressure. And a fiber-rich diet is key to lowering the cholesterol levels in our blood, this helping to reduce the risk of heart disease.
In addition to all the fantastic health benefits of this amazing food group, there’s the simple fact that fruits are usually fantastically tasty! This is because most fruits contain natural sugar. In fact, some fruits like apples and bananas are so high in sugar that eating one of them is enough to satisfy the average person’s recommended daily sugar intake. However, don’t let their high sugar content put you off—they are still much healthier when compared to soft drinks and other artificial sources of sugar.
So whether it’s fresh berries in your morning oatmeal, a banana smoothie, or even a classic glass of orange juice, fruit is guaranteed to add a healthy addition to your diet.
When fruit met chocolate
While it’s commonly known that fruit is a healthy part of any diet, what’s lesser known is that chocolate can lay the same claim. In fact, chocolate, particularly in its darker forms, contains high levels of antioxidants, and some studies have suggested that eating chocolate regularly can even help prevent memory loss. Of course, as the saying goes, everything in moderation. But chocolate is definitely, along with fruit, an integral part to any healthy diet.
So, if fruit and chocolate are both healthy, why not combine them into one amazing brunch dish? Try making yourself some fruit skewers with a side of chocolate sauce. You won’t regret this amazing brunch treat. The fruity side of the dish consists of banana, kiwi, pineapple, and strawberries. All of the above are placed on a wooden skewer, which can then be dipped into a magical chocolate sauce consisting of dark chocolate, cream, sugar, and water. This dish is a deliciously healthy way to start the day.
Say goodbye to store-bought jam
Are you a fan of jam? There’s nothing quite like starting the day with a healthy portion of jam on a piece of toast. Or what about the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich? This dish has been gracing schoolchildren’s lunches for decades, and for good reason! Not only is it very quick to make—it’s healthy to boot.
But while you may have considered making jam yourself at home, it could be that you were put off by complicated recipes containing ingredients you’d never heard of. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way. For this fruity homemade mandarin jam you won’t even need pectin, the ingredient often used to give jam its jelly consistency. Instead, lemon juice, jam sugar, and some fresh mandarins make up the three simple components of this tasty treat.
And while it might take a couple of hours of boiling to allow the mandarin fruit and all of its juices to reach a jelly-like consistency, it’ll be totally worth it. Upon completion, it’s time to pour your new homemade delicacy into a jar and seal tightly. Once it’s cooled down, you can begin enjoying it right away. Even better is that this jam will probably last around three months if kept cool in the fridge.
Dessert à la fruit
Have you ever tried quince paste before? If you haven’t been to Spain or Mexico, it could very well be you haven’t. Well, you’re in for a surprise. Quince is a pear-like fruit originally from the Middle East, but can now be found in supermarkets around the world. The first place where quince was turned into a paste was Spain, where the locals call it Membrillo. The ingredients couldn’t be simpler—quince, sugar, and vanilla. Enjoy with a side of Manchego cheese.
The infinite world of smoothie combinations
Smoothies are amongst the tastiest ways of enjoying fruit. Just throw whatever you have in the fruit basket into the blender along with some yogurt and you’re usually good to go! But sometimes, getting the ultimate combination of ingredients can be a bit difficult. Luckily, there are two smoothie combinations that are guaranteed to please your taste buds.
The first of these is a delicious grape and kiwi smoothie—a perfect way to start your day. But if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, then perhaps go for an avocado banana smoothie with chia seeds. Although it’s a bit more complicated to make, you won’t regret going the extra mile.
