One great excitement many of us have during springtime is the appearance of some most loved fruits.   Watermelon, plums, nectarines, cherries, hand picked berries and peaches, all remind me of kids eating them with passion as the fruit juices drip off their chin.

Berries have been shown to lessen mental decline in a recent study due to their high flavonoid content. Peaches and watermelon are classified as a good source of vitamins A and C, while plums (known as prunes in a dried state) are well advertised for promoting regularity, but to enhance the absorption of iron due to their high levels of vitamin C.

There is nothing wrong with eating fresh fruit right off the tree, but think about how much fun you can have with it serving it in fun new ways.  Might even help with the challenging eaters in your household.

Some quick easy ideas include:

• Scoop out some watermelon balls and serve in small ice cream cones
• Slice, brush with fruit juice and grill your nectarines or peaches to serve with your meat of choice
• Make plum salsa and serve with lower salt corn tortilla chips
• Add berries to a grapefruit salad and sprinkle with walnuts, a drizzle of honey adds a nice touch
• Prepare vanilla yogurt, add some pitted halved cherries, pour into popsicle sticks and freeze (dipping in chocolate after frozen is another tasty option to consider)

Enjoy your pickings!

Karla Heintz (BSc) Nutrition Educator and Author of

‘Picky! Not Me Mom! A parents’ guide to children’s nutrition.

www.karlaheintz.com