Tasting the rainbow

Time is ripe for enjoying fruit salads

By ALLISON ASKINS
Knight Ridder Newspapers

Add in all the delicious, colorful fruits available from around the country, and you have plenty of material to work with to create fabulous fruit salads.

Not only are fresh fruits pretty to look at and tasty to the tongue, but they’re good for you, too.

“Fruits are nutrient-dense foods. They provide a substantial amount of vitamins and minerals with relatively few calories,” said Teresa Hill, nutrition coordinator for the Division of Obesity Prevention and Control with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

They’re also rich in fiber, which is crucial to maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Hill notes that recent studies show that eating fruits (and vegetables) can help maintain a healthy weight and fight diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers.

It’s true that fruits contain sugars, but it’s important to understand that these are natural sugars, which are different from those in processed foods.

“Added sugars in processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages really are the main culprits to be concerned about because they’re calorie dense instead of nutrient dense,” Hill said.

In today’s fast-paced culture, fruits also offer a great quick fix. They require very little extra effort beyond washing and chopping. If you buy ready-cut fruit, which is available in most grocery stores, you really have easy prep work on your hands.