When it comes to food, preparation matters (a lot)
It’s strawberry season in my neighborhood and a friend picked up a gallon of berries for me from our favorite strawberry farm. They are delicious! How do you like your strawberries? When it comes to food, preparation matters (a lot).
Strawberries are delightful when ripened on the plant and freshly picked. That’s also when they’re healthiest for us–in their original state. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy fresh strawberry pie–I do! But fruits and vegetables (which are really good for us) are healthiest when fresh.
Packed with what’s good for us
Fresh fruits and veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, nutrients we need daily. Other benefits of fresh fruits and veggies, when eaten without added sugar, fat, or sodium, include:
- Fresh fruits and veggies contain a lot of water to help us stay hydrated.
- Fiber is needed for us to have healthy bowel habits–fresh fruits and veggies are good sources of fiber.
- Five or more daily servings of healthy fruits and veggies helps us maintain a healthy weight.
- Fresh fruits and veggies work to fill our stomachs so we eat less of the unhealthy options.
- A diet with ample amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables contributes to healthier blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Tips for preparing fruits and veggies
- Wash fresh fruits and veggies thoroughly before eating or adding to other foods.
- Eat fruits and veggies fresh whenever possible.
- Keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand, ready to eat, for snacking to avoid indulging in less healthy snacks.
- Consider buying organic if your budget allows. Organic fruits and veggies will have less harmful chemicals caused by fertilizer and insecticides.
- Try to avoid adding fat or sugar when preparing fruits and veggies. (This includes avoiding fried foods).
Tonight I made strawberry jam with some of my fresh strawberries.
Image by Iris Hamelmann from Pixabay
Jam and jelly are great examples of how we can take a healthy food and turn it into unhealthy one. An eight ounce jar (one cup) of strawberry jam has nearly a cup of sugar. WOW! Jams and jellies should be taken in very small doses.
What’s your favorite fruit? Your favorite vegetable? Can you add more fresh fruits and veggies to your day? Prepared in a healthy way?
It’s spring and summer will soon follow. I hope we can look forward to a blessed growing season with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.
I love fresh fruits and vegetables, especially when grown locally.
Yes! Our local strawberries just became available last week. They are SO GOOD! I hope you’ll enjoy them, too. Blessings!
Strawberries are among my favorite spring fruits. This year I am growing some and they are almost ripe. It will be a treat to eat some from my own garden. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips!
I’m so proud of you Barbara, growing your own berries. I miss having a garden with my husband–a lot of work, but such good food. I hope you have a bumper crop. I know they’ll taste great. Blessings!
I love fresh fruits and veggies–strawberries, apples, peas, corn–I do confess I put a little too much butter and salt on corn on the cob, though. New England and upstate New York have many fruit and veggie farms and orchards and farm stands. I miss those a lot!
Butter on corn is absolutely necessary! I love nearly all fruits and vegetables–so much variety and good taste–and they’re healthy for us (if we don’t use too much butter and salt). Wishing you a great week and hoping you’re getting some warmer weather. Joy and blessings!
I love the strawberry farm we frequent during this season. They’ll have fresh blueberries soon too! I love them both and eat them almost every morning with my cereal!
Mmm! Fresh strawberries and blueberries are two of my favorites. That’s a breakfast to look forward to! Blessings!