Susan's Top 5 Fruit Picks

I enjoy so many different fruits that the only way I was able to tackle this Top 5 list was by focusing on what's coming in to season.

My tendency is to choose organically or locally grown fruits (locally grown fruits and vegetables tend to have fewer pesticides than conventionally grown produce since they are not being transported). However, buy what you can afford. In my opinion it's better to eat a conventionally grown piece of fruit than no fruit at all.

With that said, here's my Top 5:

1) Raspberries. Hands down, raspberries are my single favorite fruit and these little gems are also jam packed with health-promoting nutrients. During the growing season (June - October), I make certain to eat a carton each day (approx. 1 cup, which only contains 60 calories!). Raspberries are especially rich in ellagic acid, which helps prevent damage to cell membranes by neutralizing free-radicals in our system.

2) Strawberries. Not that I indulge in cake very often, but if I do Strawberry shortcake tops my list. And ice cream? Yep, strawberry. Of course, strawberries are perfectly tasty on their own. From a nutrition standpoint, the strawberry is considered the single most nutrient dense fruit according to George Mateljan's book, The World's Healthiest Foods. Thankfully, they're readily available and delicious year round!

3) Blueberries. If you haven't noticed, there's a theme developing. I simply love berries. I wasn't sure if I was going to list blueberries or blackberries, but blueberries won out by the slightest margin. Similar to raspberries, due to the short growing season (May - October) I tend to gobble up blueberries by the carton once the warm weather hits. Like their other berry counterparts, they provide powerful antioxidant protection.

4) Peaches. I actually have a love/hate relationship with peaches. When they're good, they are unbeatable. But they are also one of those fruits that can break your heart. All too often I get ready to enjoy what looks to be a delicious peach only to bite into a mealy, dry mess. You know what; I'm scratching peaches from this list and moving on.

4) Figs. When I was in Lake Como last summer we were lucky enough to get our hands on a flat of fresh figs. A lot of folks don't have the opportunity to try fresh figs as they are extremely delicate and perishable. If you do find them at your local farmers market, give them a try! They are really an athlete's friend - high in fiber and potassium.

5) Avocado. Yes, avocados are technically a fruit and no, they do not need to be limited to guacamole recipes. Avocados actually helped me kick my mayonnaise habit as I now use sliced avocado in place of mayo in my sandwiches. They are a rich source of oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Studies have shown that consuming avocado's regularly can help to decrease bad cholesterol. With that said, make certain to work the fat calories in to your nutrition plan. Remember, healthy fats are still fats.

Click here for Green Lite Bites Guac Chicken Sandwich Recipe

Train hard; stay strong.

Peace.

Susan