Fruit is one of my favorite food groups!  Some are concerned about the sugar content of fruit, however what we should be concerned with is the added sugar found in processed foods. These healthy carbohydrates with natural sugar along with nutrients, antioxidants and fiber your body needs should have a place on everyone’s plate. Nutrition experts recommend adults get 2-3 servings of fruit each day. Put your daily fruit servings out on a plate.

Tips to help you eat fruits

In general:

• Keep a bowl of whole fruit on the table, counter, or in the refrigerator.
• Refrigerate cut-up fruit to store for later.
• Buy fresh fruits in season when they may be less expensive and at their peak flavor.
• Buy fruits that are dried, frozen, and canned (in water or 100% juice) as well as fresh, so that you always have a supply on hand.
• Consider convenience when shopping. Try pre-cut packages of fruit (such as melon or pineapple chunks) for a healthy snack in seconds. Choose packaged fruits that do not have added sugars.

For the best nutritional value:

• Make most of your choices whole or cut-up fruit rather than juice, for the benefits dietary fiber provides.
• Select fruits with more potassium such as bananas, prunes and prune juice, dried peaches and apricots, and orange juice.
• When choosing canned fruits, select fruit canned in 100% fruit juice or water rather than syrup.
• Vary your fruit choices. Fruits differ in nutrient content.

At meals:

• At breakfast, top your cereal with bananas or peaches; add blueberries to pancakes; drink 100% orange or grapefruit juice. Or, mix fresh fruit with plain fat-free or low-fat yogurt.
• At lunch, pack a tangerine, banana, or grapes to eat, or choose fruits from a salad bar. Individual containers of fruits like peaches or applesauce are easy and convenient.
• At dinner, add crushed pineapple to coleslaw, or include orange sections or grapes in a tossed salad.
• Make a Waldorf salad, with apples, celery, walnuts, and a low-calorie salad dressing.
• Try meat dishes that incorporate fruit, such as chicken with apricots or mangoes.
• Add fruit like pineapple or peaches to kabobs as part of a barbecue meal.
• For dessert, have baked apples, pears, or a fruit salad.

As snacks:

• Cut-up fruit makes a great snack. Either cut them yourself, or buy pre-cut packages of fruit pieces like pineapples or melons. Or, try whole fresh berries or grapes.
• Dried fruits also make a great snack. They are easy to carry and store well. Because they are dried, ¼ cup is equivalent to ½ cup of other fruits.
• Keep a package of dried fruit in your desk or bag. Some fruits that are available dried include apricots, apples, pineapple, bananas, cherries, figs, dates, cranberries, blueberries, prunes (dried plums), and raisins (dried grapes).
• As a snack, spread peanut butter on apple slices or top plain fat-free or low-fat yogurt with berries or slices of kiwi fruit.
• Frozen juice bars (100% juice) make healthy alternatives to high-fat snacks.

See more at: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/fruits-tips#sthash.LZuJkm92.dpuf

One of my good friends loves the strategy of putting out your daily fruit servings on a plate a perfect reminder to finish eating these nutrient packed carbohydrates by the end of the day!