Eating healthy during the summer is easy because there are a lot of healthy foods that are in season. You can use scrumptious tomato slices, for example, with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mozzarella, and fresh basil and whip up a delicious and healthy appetizer.
Scoop a dollop of whipped cream on some fresh berries and you have an amazing dessert that literally takes five seconds to make. Toss some fresh ears of corn on the grill and you have an easy, healthy side – just be careful about the amount of butter on top!
We all have our familiar favorites (watermelon is mine) but this summer, I challenge you to try something new! Variety is not only the spice of life, it is key for a balanced diet. When we eat a wide variety of foods we are getting a variety of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients – nutrients that are found in the pigments of produce and fight chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Try something new and unusual this season. You never know – you may just find a new favorite! Below are some less common fruits that you may have seen at the grocery store.
How many have you had?
Durian, native to Southeast Asia, is a fruit that does not want to be eaten! This large, watermelon-sized fruit has a prickly, tough outer shell and an infamous odor that some like but others…don’t. But, for those that are able to get past all that, there is a fleshy inside that has a taste described as custard-like
Dragon Fruit Arguably the prettiest fruit on this list, the dragon fruit is native to the area where South and North America meet. The white flesh inside has a mild flavor that is similar to kiwi.
Kiwano (AKA Horned Melon) Pronounced kee-WAH-no, this sub-Saharan African fruit is almost as fun to play with as it is to eat! The bright green, jelly-like flesh inside tastes similar to cucumber with a little extra sweetness.
Papaya Native to Mexico and northern South America, papaya has a mild but sweet flavor and a buttery texture.
Passionfruit grows on a vine and is about the same size as a lime. Native to South America, this fruit has a similar texture to pomegranate and packs a flavor punch! It has a fresh taste that is sweet and tart.
Star fruit is so named because of the resemblance when it’s cut crosswise! Similar to a green grape, the star fruit has juicy but firm flesh and a sweet and sour taste. It is native to Southeast Asia.
Rambutan Pronounced ram-BOO-tn, this Southeast Asia-native is the “hairy” fruit you may have seen at grocery stores. The outside peel is not eaten, but the fruit is sliced open and the white flesh inside is eaten. It has a taste similar to a grape – both sweet and sour (although milder than a sour grape, in my opinion.)
Jackfruit This fruit is similar in appearance to Durian, though not as spiky! It is native to southern India and Malaysia, and can be used as a meat replacement for vegans or vegetarians! It has a consistency similar to chicken or pork, and a neutral taste.