Fitting in a Variety of Fruits |
3 Comments |
Let’s face it - a lot of people just don’t like to eat a lot of different fruits. Even though I’ve tried a couple of fruit hacks, I still don’t get enough fruit in my diet. But, there is no denying that fruit is essential for good nutritional health. And, adults are told to consume at least five servings of fruit every day. So, what can I do to increase my fruit intake?
Luckily, the answer can be relatively simple - smoothies. Yes, we’ve all heard about fruit smoothies for years now, so people may think that this is old advice. Actually, though, smoothies are not just healthy and nutritious - they are a great way to get picky fruit eaters to incorporate a wider variety of fruits into their daily diets.
Each type of fruit has different nutritional benefits. Blueberries and blackberries, for instance, offer important antioxidants that can help reduce a person’s chances of getting certain cancers. Watermelon has Lycopene, which can aid in the reduction of heart disease. Bananas, kiwis, and cantaloupes are great sources of Potassium. Mangos are an amazing source of Vitamin A. Every fruit contains vitamins and minerals needed by the human body - these are just a few examples.
So, it is evident that everyone should be eating a wide variety of fruits each day in order to reap the benefits of all of that nutrition. But, as mentioned before, many people just will not eat many different fruits. By making smoothies, a person can sneak in more types of fruits and get all of that necessary nutrition.
Of course, it really isn’t sneaking the fruit into the smoothie, because the person making and drinking the smoothie will obviously be aware of the ingredients. But, if done correctly, it will almost seem as if the fruit was snuck in because it will hardly be noticeable.
The best way to do this is to keep to a certain ratio of fruits when making a smoothie. Try using the ratio 3 to 1. For every three parts of a fruit that is liked, add one part of a fruit that is not-so-well-liked. For example, let’s say a person loves strawberries, but not peaches. So, the person would add 1 cup of strawberries (hulled), then 1/3 cup chopped peaches. Follow this ratio for any fruit. Then add the rest of the ingredients (juice, soy milk, honey, vanilla, etc.). The smoothie will taste mostly of the well-liked fruit, thereby sneaking in the disliked fruit.
This truly is a great way to get a person to eat more different fruits—try it and see!
Photo Credit: Wizan
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This post deals with:fruit, health, smoothies
... and focuses on:Food Choice
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May 15th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
ooooh thats a REALLY great tip—especially for my Toddler (is jessica seinfeld gonna sue you?
I hear she ‘created’ the food sneak).
I try to get new fruits every time I hit the grocery…things Ive not tried or havent had in a while…but I so easily get in a rut.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Fantastic advice! I use the WW smoothies. I forget what the veggie/fruit requirement is, but I try to make sure I get in at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. Doesn’t always happen, as you can tell from my food journal.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Just tagged ya over at FMU.