Must Have Fruits

Time and time again, several fruits have made it into my weekly shopping list. Since I am always on a tight budget, these are the fruits I keep coming back to. They are usually available in any season, easy to prepare, stores for a while, and they add extra flavor, color, and nutrients to my meals. These popular fruits in my diet are bananas, apples, grapes, and clementines*.

Bananas

Bananas are on the top of my must-have list, because you can add them to almost anything. There is no washing necessary, so it’s great to take on the go for days that you know you won’t get the chance to wash your hands before lunch. You can have them plain and raw, cooked, frozen, blended for texture or dipped in chocolate. On a budget? I’ve seen bananas going for as low as 49 cents/lb!

My favorite ways to add bananas to
Breakfast: take it to go when I’m late for work – no spoons required, it won’t burn or spill; and if you pick a larger one, it will last you to lunch- just make sure you carry a plastic baggy to keep the aroma of the peel away from yourself if you know you won’t find a trash can for a while
- Lunch: PB&J with banana slices – it’s a classic, no explanation necessary
- Dinner: sautee it like plantains, make rice in a rice cooker, and microwave a can of beans – lazy, easy, and nutritious- my kind of dinner after a long day at work
- Dessert: a banana boat sundae – there is nothing that reminds me of my childhood more than a banana boat sundae

Do you peel your bananas from the stem or the end?

I generally peel my bananas from the end, because I was told you can’t eat the needle that is pulled out when you peel it from the end. If you peel the banana from the stem, you might end up eating that needle, which has traces of poison in it (or so I’ve been told).

Did you know? Bananas are also good for relieving constipation.

Apples

Yes, apples, but not just any kind of apples can make it to my grocery list. The picture shows Honey Crisp Apples, which are by far my favorite kind of apples. Why are they so good compared to all the other apples? Well, you can probably guess by its name that it is naturally sweet and crispy. Other than that, they make great baking apples, for pie or for stuffed apples. They are also great for making sauces. Sometimes you can find them for as low as 99 cents/lb. Apples are available year-round even if they aren’t Honey Crisps.

Add apples to
- Breakfast: by itself or to oatmeal for real texture that apple flavored oatmeal does not provide.
- Lunch: apple tuna sandwich – dice the apples, peeled or not, and mix it in your favorite tuna salad sandwich; or a variation of PB&J with sliced apples
- Dessert: Baked apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and even cherry soda! (Receipes to come)

Did you know? Apples contain as much caffeine as a small cup of coffee. So if you are trying to lose the coffee and start eating healthier, you don’t have to give up your caffeine kick. Instead, trade in your coffee for natural caffeine from an apple.

Grapes

Red or green, it doesn’t matter. Just wash and eat them whenever you want. No peeling necessary, and they make great snacks. These litte fruits are super juicy. Though they are usually over $1/lb, they are most definitely worth it, because they also go well in any meal.

Add grapes to
- Breakfast: by slicing them in half the long way and adding it it to your cream cheese on bagles or toast
- Lunch: in your tuna salad sandwich – another variation; or in your fried rice as a substitute for pineapples
- Drinks: by freezing them – they make great ice cubes and adds color to champagne. It’s a great conversation starter too.

Clementines*

The reason why this fruit is on my list even though they are not freshly available year-round, they are available in can form, which is just as good. These mini oranges are sweeter, juicier, and easier to peel. They make great snacks, and adds flavor to meals. Clementines usually come in a big box. You can get them for as low as $6 a box when they are in season, or for less than a dollar in can form.

Add clementines to
- Breakfast: in your yogurt or cottage cheese
- Lunch: Asian salads for the tangy taste
- Dinner: as a sauce or marinade with chicken stir-fry (Receipe to come)
- Dessert: mixed in your jello mold

I hope this post has inspired you to find creative ways to add fruit to your diet. Have fun with these new ideas and check back for receipes.