It’s no big secret – fruit is an essential part of a healthy diet whether you want to lose weight, increase energy or lower your risk of certain diseases.
Although recent research indicates that fruit alone may not increase weight loss, it can be a smart way to add a wealth of vitamins and minerals to help satisfy your body’s need for nutrition. Fruit can also be a delicious way to get fiber – a whole lot tastier than the powdered stuff at the store – to help keep you feeling fuller longer.
Forget the pseudo chocolate-flavored diet shakes and ditch the diet pills. Add wholesome produce like pears, mangos, watermelon, papaya, peaches, plums, blackberries and more to your healthy diet to lose weight in the most delicious way. Here are 3 tips for adding more fruit to your diet this summer and all year long:
- Get wild with your salad – Create a masterpiece of exotic fruit using star fruit, passion fruit and tropical favorites like guava, or dress up spinach and greens with fruit to complement (or help hide) the less sweet vegetables.
- Blend up a tropical smoothie – Papayas and mangos mix well with staples like banana and your favorite low-fat yogurt or milk for added richness. Create your own smoothie packs, ready to blend for a healthy breakfast, by chopping and bagging fruit in advance and then storing it in the freezer.
- Mix savory and sweet – Peach-topped pork? Blackberry quinoa salad? Proteins and whole grains blend beautifully with fruit.
- Add dessert to the menu – That’s right, you don’t have to give up dessert when you make fruit the focus. Chop it, grill it, or broil it and top with a drizzle of honey, dark chocolate, cinnamon or even a spoonful of whipped cream to enjoy a lower calorie sweet treat.
Channel your inner Julia Child with these tips to add more fruit to your diet or simply keep ready-to-eat fruit on hand for a quick and healthy snack that’s full of flavor.