Posts tagged ‘benefits of fruit’
Chipper Snacks: Quick and Easy Fruit Smoothie
Are you Chipper for fruit? Fruit is full of nutrients and a fruit smoothie is a delicious way to incorporate fruit into your daily diet. With smoothies, you and your kids are getting all the benefits of whole fruit in a drinkable form. Smoothies are quick and easy to make before you go to bed or in the morning before work and school. Increase the health benefits of a fruit smoothie by adding milk, yogurt or even a few vegetables. A fruit smoothie will curb your sweet tooth in a healthy way, reducing the risk of overeating or indulging in unhealthy sweets. Since many fruits are full of fiber, they improve your digestive regularity and keep you feeling fuller longer!
Fruit is full of various vitamins and minerals. Fruit is high in vitamin C, vitamin A, B vitamins and folic acid. Smoothies are also a good way to sneak in healthy fruit or veggies that you or the little ones may not like! Just cover up the taste with other fruits! Many fruits and berries that taste great in a smoothy are full of antioxidants.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup strawberries
- 2 ripe peaches
- 3/4 cup milk
- 8oz. Vanilla yogurt
Chipper Snacks: 3 Ways to Eat Watermelon this Summer
Plain and unadorned, watermelon is a reliable source of cool refreshment. At 92% water, it’s a wonderful snack for those hot summer days and a great source of vitamin C for your little ones. With it’s sweet and juicy taste, they’ll never guess that they are eating a healthy snack! Watermelon is always good but check out these ideas for creative ways to use this favorite summertime fruit!
1. Halloween in the Summer: Carve a Melon Manner!
Looking for a sweet real estate deal? Turn the rind of this favorite summertime fruit into a palatial home for toy figures or visiting fairies.
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- Start by slicing off one end of the melon and setting it aside. Cut the insides into pieces, remove them, then scoop out any remaining chunks with a long-handled spoon (save the insides to make a scrumptious salad seen below).
- Carve windows and a door with a small knife, or if you really want to get fancy, break out your pumpkin-carving tools.
Use toothpicks as needed to join bits and pieces into shrubs and to secure the roof (made from the sliced-off end). To illuminate your stately mansion by night, place a battery-operated tea light inside or use an old fashion candle!
2. Forget Baking: Try these Cool Cookies!
All you need beside a watermelon is Vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt and Sprinkles (optional).
- Slice melon into 1-inch-thick slabs, then use cookie cutters to make shapes.
- Frost your treats with vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt (spoon the yogurt into a squeeze bottle to make decorating really fun and easy) and top them with sprinkles if you like.
3. Use up chunks of Watermelon: Test out this Surprisingly Delicious Salad!
The sweet-and-salty flavor combo of watermelon and feta may sound a little strange, but trust Chipper: your kids will go bananas for it. You will need:
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- 8 cups cubed watermelon
- 2 to 4 ounces cubed or crumbled feta
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh basil or mint
- 8 cups cubed watermelon
- Instructions:
- 1. Mix the watermelon and feta.
- 2. Toss with a dressing made from the lime juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with slivered fresh basil or mint. Serves 8.
- Like Chipper always says, “Healthy before sweet can’t be beat!” Enjoy your sweet AND healthy watermelon this Summer!
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Chipper Snacks: Fruit Facts and Crunchy Summer Fruit Salad Recipe
Fruit is one of the best kinds of food for you and there’s no better time to eat some fresh, juicy produce than during the hot summer days. Summer fruits include berries (Chipper‘s favorite!), melons, peaches, nectarines and plums. Eating fruits is apart of any healthy diet and helps reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. Dr. Oz noted a new study in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that children who don’t like fruits and vegetables are 13 times more likely to be constipated! Not drinking enough water was also a risk factor. Fruits have a lot of water in them and are a great hydrating snack. Fruits are also very high in Vitamin C, which keeps teeth and gums healthy and your body happy!
Women should eat one and a half to two cups daily and kids over the sage of 2 should eat at least one to one and a half cups of fruit per day. If you wash some fresh, organic fruit today and cut them into bite size pieces for a snack, use left overs for a fruit salad tomorrow! Freeze extra fruits, like berries, to eat later before they go bad. “You are what you eat” is an extremely accurate quote. What you eat effects how you feel, mentally and physically, so eat good!
FRUIT Tips:
- Shop for fruits that are in season since they cost less and taste better.
- Dip cut-up fruits like apples and bananas in lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Wash fruits just before using; water can cause early spoilage.
- Eat different fruits for the greatest variety of tastes and nutrients.
Here’s a great, simple recipe to try out this summer to get some fruit in your diet:
CRUNCHY FRUIT SALAD RECIPE
- 1/4 Cantaloupe, cut into bite-sized pieces.
- 1 Large Stalk celery, sliced.
- 2 cups blueberries
- 1/4 cup reduced-fat ranch salad dressing
- Lettuce leaves
- 1 cup favorite crispy or crunchy cereal
In a medium bowl, mix cantaloupe, celery, blueberries, and dressing until blended. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, arrange lettuce leaves in 4 salad bowls, or on plates. Spoon fruit mixture over lettuce. Top each serving with 1/4 cup of cereal.
(Makes 4 servings; Each serving provides 111 calories, 1.6 grams protein, 21 grams carbohydrates, 2.3 grams fat, 180 milligrams sodium, 3.2 grams fiber.)
