Monday, March 19, 2012

Tips to Go From Fruitless to Fruitful

That black stuff? Not for the next 5 days,   read on for grapefruit info.

Fruit is healthy and of course nutritious but sometimes it's difficult to get people excited over fruit. Carolyn and I were asked to speak about fruit at a breakfast at for Edible Arrangements at Sarabeth's restaurant. Edible Arrangements has new items called their “grab and go collection” at their stores nationwide. I hear clients complain about buying fruit only to watch it rot; so anything that removes a mental barrier deserves a vote in my book. Here were some of our fruity ideas.



What's in it for me?
You’re not alone; most of us are selfish.  And fruit is no exception. I talked recently about pineapple as a mood food and that the core may boost fertility. What about prickly pears helping with elevated blood sugar? Or grapefruit is one of the top fruits a research proven health glow (thanks Jess)? Yup, it’s one of the best edible “beauty tools” (see recipe below).

Be Your Own Sous Chef
You are not going to take a whole cantaloupe to the office. The day you food shop (which according to the Manhattan Diet is every day for New Yorkers) cut your fruit and put it in single-serve glass containers and slice up limes or lemons for water or teas. There are days my children are standing at the door waiting in the morning and others where they aren’t cooperating. Let your fruit “stand by the door and cooperate”. If fruit calls your name when you open the fridge it’s much better than the cheese.

We Do Judge a Fruit By its Cover
Presentation matters so be your own “fruit” stylist. Even if you don’t have arrangement making skills, skewer, make melon balls or use pretty containers. I love ceramic berry containers from Roost.  Include lobster forks in containers for eating fruit on the go.
Go, Go, Go
Thanks to Dr Oz and Oprah, we know nutritionists aren’t the only ones fixated on bowel movements. It’s important to everyone. Berries, kiwi, pears and avocados are your pooping personal assistants.

Fun Fruitensils
I mentioned the melon baller but how about a grapefruit knife or pineapple corer? Nothing like a new gadget to get you “in the mood”.

8 Glasses Isn’t Easy
While I don’t suggest reaching your water goal via fruit alone, watermelon, cucumbers (yes a fruit), oranges and apricots are water-packed fruits.

Doctor (your) Fruit
Trying to tame a sweet tooth? Hooked on Skinny Cows and trying to convince yourself they’re healthy? Make your own applesauce or baked apples, freeze banana slices (or try Yonanas), warm frozen wild blueberries (close your eyes and it’s berry pie) or our favorite broil grapefruit

  • Preheat Broiler
  • Halve a grapefruit and cut inside the perimeter separating the grapefruit from the peel
  • Sprinkle with Coconut Palm Sugar (use approx 1 teaspoon) or brown sugar.
  • I like to sprinkle with ground ginger but cinnamon or cardamom works too. 
  • Place halves in baking dish or on cookie sheet close to broiler
  • Broil 5 min until edge browns a little and sugar caramelizes.
And then try to tell me fruit isn't exciting.
Are you "fruitless" or fruitful? Why do you eat fruit? Any suggestions for making fruit exciting? 



34 comments:

  1. I'm absolutely a fruit bat. I feel out of sorts if I don't have at least 3 kinds of fruit to choose from in the kitchen. I've honestly never been able to understand people who say that they don't like fruit. Broiled grapefruit sounds interesting!

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    1. haven't heard "fruit bat" but I think people just get out of the fruit habit. Since it's not automatically a part of meals, it takes some seeking out. How was the trip?

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  2. Fruit never goes bad at my house. I have never understood how people eat so little or 'dont like it'. To eat a juicy sweet orange, or a pink lady apple... yummy. Strawberries.. any berries.. When I was in the far east we ate a lot of mango, papaya and the most delicious fruit ever rambutans!! .. I love them all.. peaches, plums, cherry's, banana, pineapple, fresh rhubarb picked from the garden and dipped in sugar, pears, nectarines and all the melons... yummy..

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    1. The pro fruiters jumping to the first comments. While I've never had a rambutan (I don't think) I adore certain fruits. It seems lucky that a pear or blueberry has nutrients they do because I would eat them solely based on taste. I have to experiment with rhubarb too, good ideas.

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  3. "Berries, kiwi, pears and avocados are your pooping personal assistants."

    Hahaha! Might be my favorite line in any post you've ever written (and my new personal mantra.)

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    1. Thanks MD, I try, I try. "Move your bowels" isn't nearly as fun, right? Thanks for commenting.

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  4. I eat fruit now, but I was one who had a hard time eating it in the past. One fruit I can't stand is mango. I have some friends from Liberia and they always make me try it and my reaction is always the same. I read this post earlier and then went to the store before work. I bought kiwi, blackberries and raspberries!

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    1. Ooh Caron were you adhering to the "go, go, go" list? It's a good one.

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    2. I knew you'd pick that up! I had a well-fed weekend. :)

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  5. I adore all things fruit! I eat a grapefruit a day. Gonna try that broiled version as soon as I'm back in the states. Loled at "a new gadget to get you in the mood". ;)

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    1. What are your fruit options away Cameo? Make sure you include at least 1 per day. Thanks for commenting from afar.

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    2. everyone is getting the humor this morning, very aware today.

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  6. I LOVE fruit, and was so happy to see fresh, in season fruit at the grocery store yesterday. I can live on fruit alone during the summer!

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    1. have to read your chicken article but seems you're not living on that anymore.

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    2. You may never eat chicken again after this article.

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    3. you wouldn't think more common with crowded/factory farms than organic chickens though, no? I only eat organic chicken but will look into it.

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  7. I think putting the fruit into single serve containers is a great idea. I try to do this on the weekends for the week. It definitely saves time.
    I loved the broiled grapefruit!! YUM!

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    1. It does, if all you have to do is grab a container there's no excuses.

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  8. I don't eat fruits much, well except avocado, cucumber, tomatoes... I don't have a sweet tooth, I like fatty/salty food better. I sometimes wonder if fruits are not artificially sweeten... they don't taste like they used to, even the organic ones. The sweetness is sometimes too empowering and mask the flavor. I do eat a couple a day, but not 4-5 like my kids and DH. Fruit is Nature's candy for them!

    I did not know about avocado being a 'poo helper'. Thanks for the info.

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    1. very high fiber that avocado, really a wonder food. I'm not such a sweet person either but have a fruit a day (usually in smoothies).

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  9. We are huge fruit eaters at our house, and you know I serve some sort of fresh fruit with every dinner. Truth be told my kids are much better fruit eaters than veggie eaters so we never have rotten fruit at our house. I love to sprinkle cinnamon on fresh apple or orange slices. Strawberry season now... I am in heaven :-)

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    1. cinnamon on oranges, that I haven't tried. If I had fruit trees I would eat fruit all the time as well.

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  10. i so need to make that grapefruit in the morning yum

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    1. it's good rebecca key is getting sugar to "brule'" sp?

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  11. I love fruit, eat it everyday in my smoothie or for a snack with nuts or cheese. And I have those same ceramic berry containers...there are some blackberries nesting in them as we speak. :)

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    1. how great are those containers? make me so happy.

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  12. I often bring fruit to work as a snack and I agree with the "waiting and ready" advice of cutting it up and putting it into containers. I've recently started doing this with veggies like peppers and celery with little containers of hummus too. And the frozen bananas are a great idea but if you want to go one step further, you can make banana "ice cream" by freezing sliced bananas and then pureeing them in a blender or food processer - it really does taste like ice cream and it totally has the texture. If you want to get fancy you can experiment with flavors by adding a little cocoa powder or maybe peanut butter, almond butter, honey, etc. My 6 year old totally thinks it's ice cream and honestly it's good enough to fool me too.

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    1. Love banana soft serve, "yonanas" does that but yes, food processor works well too. Adding nut butter sounds dangerous (and delicious)

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  13. I buy loads of frozen fruit from Trader Joe's and every morning I have a smoothie with brown rice protein powder. So easy! So fast...perfect before work.

    Love Edible Arrangements!

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    1. frozen fruit so key in smoothies, what else goes in other than the protein?

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  14. Loveee fruit! Maybe bc I despise most veggies so much? I love dipping it in yogurt!

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    1. funny that you're so pro fruit. Would you still say "despise" makes me sad.

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  15. I am definitely fruit-FUL. I rely on apples, clementines, and bananas as on-the-go snacks and I enjoy berries and melon for dessert! So good, and so filling!

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    1. you are fruit-ful I can't even "dare" you to eat more. I like the snack vrs dessert distinctions.

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