A healthy diet: fruits as a snack!

Have you noticed that fruits and vegetables have only five different colours?

Red, yellow/orange, white, blue/purple and green.  Each colour corresponds to vitamins and all sorts of other beneficial substances that play an important role in protecting our body from diseases and seasonal ailments.

All within fruit!

For example, cherries and strawberries protect the heart; oranges and lemons are rich in vitamin C, which helps protect us from colds; bananas, pears and apples help strengthen bones; grapes and blueberries help with digestion and memory; kiwis also contain vitamin C but are also good for the eyes..

How much fruit should be eaten as a snack?  Well, at least one portion: this could either be one medium-sized fruit, such as an apple or peach, or alternatively, two smaller fruits such as apricots, plums, or mandarins. We have a large selection to choose from: one that changes from season to season. If you can’t quite decide which fruit to have for your afternoon snack, consider the season you’re in and discover which fruits are characteristic of this time of year! According to scientists seasonal products are always tastier and richer in nutritional properties than those grown and cultivated outside their ideal time frame.

Here’s some advice on how you can best enjoy your fruit!

Ripe fruit is always the best option: if you want to experience the best taste and get the best nutritional qualities, fruit should be enjoyed at the right level of ripeness.

• Make sure it’s been carefully washed: it’s important to wash the fruit thoroughly before eating it to remove any unwanted bits. Doing this also means that you can eat the skin too!
• If you can, choose a whole piece of fruit We’re not denying how delicious juices and smoothies are…but remember that unprocessed fruit is much richer in vitamins and fibre, and, consequently, is much better for our health.
• Peel is good for you! You don’t always need to peel fruits: lots of common fruits (such as apples and pears) have peels that are easy to eat, whilst also being rich in fibres that are great for our bodies.  That said, make sure you only eat the peel of fruits that haven’t been treated with pesticides.