I am not the kind of nutritionist who is going to tell you you can’t eat fruit because of the sugar it adds to your diet.

RELATED: Is Natural Sugar Different From Added Sugar?

No, you shouldn’t be eating more fruit than veggies. And yes, you need protein and healthy fats to balance things out. (Like most things, don’t overdo it!) But fruit is one of the best sources of fiber and is almost universally rich in antioxidants—those powerful molecules I bring up constantly.

When the weather gets warmer, fruit gets sweeter and juicier and you end up wanting to add it to your plate more often. While other food groups lend themselves to combos, we tend to eat fruit on its own. An apple. A handful of berries. That doesn’t have to be the case.

Here are some creative ways to mix things up and add more fruit to your diet.

5 Creative Ways to Eat Fruit

1. Grill it

A burger is not the only food that tastes better when you can see those grill lines. Fruits like pineapple and watermelon are super delicious when grilled, and you can use them as toppings for other dishes at the barbecue, too.

eat fruit

2. Dress Up Your Drinks

This is a way to enjoy more fruit and stay hydrated, especially if you’re someone who has trouble getting enough water throughout the day. Throwing some fruit in will make it a way more special beverage. Try mixed berries, cubed melon, or pineapple rings. Frozen watermelon cubes also make super cool ice cubes you can throw in water…or a cocktail.

3. Put it in Salads

I’m not talking about fruit salad.  Fruit is sweet but it’s the perfect complement to veggie and grain salads. Try putting berries in a quinoa salad, for example, or slicing grapefruit to serve with shaved Brussels.

4. Make Smoothies

There’s nothing wrong with drinking green juice if it’s super green, but when fruit is juiced, you lose the fiber, and the sugar gets super concentrated. Instead of juicing, make smoothies so the healthy fruit retains its fiber and is paired with other nutrients like fat that will help slow down the sugar absorption.

5. Make Fruit Salsa

Salsa is generally salty and tomato-y, but when you add fruit, it gets that sweet-and-salty flavor that can take it up a whole other notch. Mango, pineapple, strawberries, and apples can all be delicious in salsa. Try this recipe to start.

 

(Photos: Shutterstock)

About Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN
Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, is a renowned celebrity nutritionist, healthy cooking expert, and wellness thought-leader. She is the founder and CEO of Nutritious Life and The Nutritious Life Studio, an online certification that provides unparalleled, forward-thinking education to individuals of various backgrounds looking to establish successful careers in the health and wellness industry.

WANT A SNEAK PEEK INSIDE THE PROGRAM?

Get FREE access to some of the core training materials that make up our signature program
– Become a Nutrition Coach.

Don’t Miss Out on Living a Nutritious Life

Sign Up for our newsletter!

Nutritious Life Newsletter - articles sidebar

Bioptimizers

WANT TO KNOW THE RIGHT MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT FOR YOU?

Magnesium Breakthrough contains all 7 forms of magnesium designed to help calm your mind and help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed.

For an exclusive offer, go to bioptimizers.com/nlkeri and use promo code NLKERI for 10% off any order.

Interested in joining our wellness community and becoming a Nutritious Life Master Certified Nutrition and Wellness Coach?

Enter your info, get free access now to a sample class!

Inside Articles page - take a free class form

"*" indicates required fields

I agree*
I would like to receive text messages, and agree to the Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies.