Healthy Summer Fruits That Offer Kids and Adults More Than Just Great Taste
Fruit is – or should be – a staple of the summer diet of both kids and adults. Especially active kids whose bodies tend to crave snacks to gain more energy. Fruits can be added to salads, eaten alone as a refreshing alternative to standard snack foods and even added to the plain water everyone needs to be drinking to remain properly healthy and hydrated to give it both a flavor and a nutrient kick. And have you ever tried grilled fruit on the BBQ? Totally delicious.
But did you know that some fruits have more to offer in terms of nutrition than others? Here are our top picks for summer fruits that taste great and offer some wonderful extra health benefits as well that can be enjoyed all summer long by your whole family, even the pickiest kids.
Pineapple
Pineapple and summer go together naturally, especially as they are usually associated with exotic retreats and tropical locales. Also, because their sweet juiciness is so refreshingly delicious. But pineapple has more to offer than just great taste.
Pineapple is packed with vitamins, antioxidants and even an enzyme called bromelain that helps to protect the body against the damaging rays of the sun. It’s not a sunscreen substitute, but it can offer an all-natural boost to your favorite sun cream’s powers.
Kiwi
Did you know that a single kiwi fruit packs more Vitamin C than a large orange? Or that it contains more fiber than whole-wheat bread? And their very high Vitamin E content is great for your skin, protecting it from the inside out from some of the unflattering aging effects of the sun.
Oranges
Nothing quite says summer like the sweet smell of fresh oranges and freshly squeezed orange juice. Aside from the thing we all know about them, that they are packed with vitamin C, oranges are also rich in potassium, an essential nutrient that can prevent against muscle cramps during vigorous summer swim and sports sessions. On top of this, oranges also contain 80 per cent water so they will also keep you and your kids extra hydrated on the go.
Watermelon
When it comes to the best summer fruits, watermelon may just be the winner. Made up of 92% water and ridiculously low in calories, watermelon is cooling and refreshing at any time, especially if you eat it straight from the fridge. But that is not all it has to offer in the summer. It also has some of the highest levels of Lycopene found in any fruit. Why is that important? Because Lycopene is a phytonutrient that has been found in numerous studies to protect skin against UV damage from within.
Tomatoes
Most people forget that the tomato is a fruit, but it is, and it’s a summer staple for salads and side dishes that is a no brainer inclusion in dozens of summer recipes. But it too offers that all important Lycopene as well as a very low-calorie way, to add extra flavor, and vitamins, to all kinds of warm weather meals.
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