Category: Fruit Tips

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Fruit Tips

The best fruits to help you during allergy season!

If you have seasonal allergies and you enjoy eating fruits, you are reading the right article!

Some fruits can help you during allergy

There are several fruits that provide you with specific benefits during seasonal allergies. These usually start during Spring season and can go through Fall. It’s very important to have a strong immune system during seasonal allergies. So why not start by eating clean, healthy foods like fruits. We will list here the best fruits to help you during allergy season.

  • Citrus Fruits: they are full of vitamin C! The best way to increase your immunity is to get vitamin C in its most natural form. It’s good to take vitamins in capsules. It’s even better to get it from eating the actual fruit. Whole foods are full of minerals and antioxidants that aren’t found in most supplements.  Oranges, lemons, grapefruits and kiwis are some examples of great fruits to eat during allergy season. Lemons and oranges are in season mostly from March through November.
Slices of citrus fruits
  • Strawberries: they are also in season mostly from Spring until Fall! Which means you can get the best from strawberries to help you fight your allergy symptoms. Fruits are in their most nutrient rich form when they are in season! Strawberries, as other berries like blueberries, are rich in Quercetin. Some of its beneficial effects include anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory activities. Quercetin blocks histamines from cells and other allergic substance acting as a natural antihistamine. It’s ability to prevent allergic effects can help treat asthma and bronchitis.

Most red fruits contains flavonoids known as anthocyanins.

  • Cherries and grapes: also acting as antihistamine, anthocyanins are helpful for reducing congestion in sinuses passages. To get the best out of these flavonoids, make sure to keep them cool. Making blueberry pancakes or boiling strawberries to make jam significantly reduce the amount of anthocyanins. Try making fresh smoothies during allergy season!
  • Tomatoes: full of vitamin C and important source of lycopene. This is a carotenoide that helps reduce inflammation. It decreases the allergic response of eosinophils, a type of cell that promotes allergy symptoms. Different then berries, steaming or boiling  tomatoes bring out more lycopene for optimal nutrition.
  • Pineapples: they have bromelain – an enzyme that can ease sinus congestion. It fights inflammation helping reduce the swelling brought on by pollen and other seasonal allergens. Pineapples are easy to find all year-round. However, enjoy the sweetest pineapples in the Spring season, from March to July! Learn here how to pick the best pineapples at the grocery store.
Big tomato
PIneapple can help you during allergy season
Apple can help you during allergy season
  • Apples: just like berries, apples have quercetin which helps block histamines. Quercetin is found in the peel of apples. So, make sure to eat apples with skin on during allergies season! On the other hand, apples and other fruits, can cause allergy reaction to people with pollen food allergy syndrome. These fruits have proteins similar to those in allergenic trees. People who have birch pollen allergies might have reactions to apples and peaches, for example.

In general, these are the best fruits to help you during allergy season.

Fruits can be a great natural source of protection for your health if you struggle with seasonal allergies. For kids who have difficulties eating fruits, try serving them in a creative way. Check out our post to make a very easy and fun plate with bluberries and oranges. They will enjoy these and get the necessary antioxidants for the allergy season!

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Fruit Tips

How to select the best fruits at the grocery store

Eating good fruits comes with the responsibility of choosing good fruits. How many times do we find ourselves staring at the produce section in the grocery stores, not knowing how to select the best fruits! Not only do we need to find the most delicious and good-looking fruits. We also need to choose the ones that best suit our needs, whether that is choosing ripe fruits to be consumed right away or greener ones for later in the week.

Keep in mind that there are fruits that continue ripening even after they were picked. As well as there are fruits that don’t! Therefore it’s important to know what are these fruits so you are not having the wrong expectations.

Our friend and Lovely Mango subscriber, Luz Villanueva, says it would be useful to read about how to select the best fruits. She has a family of five, including three kids. The below list is not only helpful for her entire family, but it can also help anyone who consumes the basic fruits, and a little more!

How to select the best bananas

BANANAS

In order to select the best fruits, let’s start with bananas which are must-haves. To eat bananas immediately or within the next day, make sure to get yellow ones with a little green around the edges and very few brown spots. Some people prefer to eat less ripe bananas, so for those, look for almost no brown spots and a little more green. To eat them in the next 3 to 5 days after you purchase them, go for a bunch that is green with a few yellow spots. Don’t forget to store them at room temperature, otherwise, if you put green bananas in the fridge it will stop the ripening process.

Selecting the best apples

APPLES

Another favorite on the grocery lists and a must-have on our how-to select the best fruits list are apples! When buying apples, avoid the ones with bruises and cuts. But if you find small bruises and cuts after you purchase them, you can cut around them. Colors don’t always define if the apple is the best to eat. However, brighter color apples are usually more flavorful than dull-looking apples and it also means they are fully riped. In case you end up with unripped apples in the house know that they continue to ripen after they were picked. If you find apples with the stem on them, that helps last longer. Lastly, a good apple should feel firm when you gently squeeze it.

How to select the best grapes

GRAPES

How do we select grapes and avoid the temptation of tasting them? Just like apples, good grapes should feel firm when you press on them. They shouldn’t feel too hard otherwise they haven’t ripened yet. Avoid buying unripe grapes as they don’t continue ripening after they have been harvested. But they also shouldn’t feel mushy either! If their stems look dark and brittle that means they are getting old and they are too soft. So, another important sign of freshness is when their stems look green. Additionally, don’t worry if you see white, waxy spots on grapes. They are called blooms and they are a natural coating that protects them from decay.

Check out this cozy pillow with green grapes on our boutique: Our Nook square pillow

How to select the best watermelon

WATERMELON

When buying pre-cut watermelon, look for bright red flesh and darker seeds. Keep in mind that once a watermelon has been cut, it will only last for a few days in the refrigerator. So unless you are planning on consuming it right away, you better off buying a whole one. In this case, look for a dark green watermelon with a yellow spot. Having a white, rather lighter color spot means it hasn’t been sitting on the field long enough and it is unripe. Another way to know it has ripening at its best is if the watermelon has a uniform shape. Avoid watermelon with bumps, dents, and asymmetrical form, which may have received irregular amounts of water and sun. Finally, a watermelon should feel heavy compared to another one of the same size, because it means it has a lot of water, it’s juicy and delicious!

Selecting the best strawberries

STRAWBERRIES

For ripe strawberries to taste sweet, they need to look red from top to bottom. Strawberries with yellow or green spots are not as sweet! Depending on weather conditions, strawberries can be small or big, but they will be delicious either way. Look for green leaves as they are a sign of freshness. Even if you see only one mold strawberry inside a box, avoid buying that box as the other strawberries are getting old too! They also should feel firm when you gently squeeze them, like any other type of berries. Don’t expect strawberries to look or taste better than they are after you buy them as they don’t ripen after they are picked. Organic strawberries are not only more nutritious and free from toxins, but they are also better for the environment.

How to select the best pineapples

PINEAPPLE

Just like watermelons, a pineapple should feel heavy if compared to other pineapples of the same size. In addition, put your nose next to its bottom to expect a sweet smell. The bottom should also look lighter in color, usually yellow, and the top half of the pineapple, light green. Avoid pineapples that are completely green or brown, with bruises and soft spots. Try to follow these tips to find the best and ready-to-eat pineapples! But if you end up with a greener one, leave it at room temperature and chances are it will ripen in a few days. Watch this experiment that shows it is possible to ripen pineapples and eat them sweeter.

How to select the best cherries

CHERRIES

When you are buying cherries, look for green stems as they are a sign of freshness. If they don’t have stems they can still taste sweet but stems will keep them fresh for a longer period of time. There are many types of cherries and with these, different colors as well. Look for deep, dark saturation, regardless of the color or type they are. Cherries also need to be firm. Soft, mushy cherries are getting too old. It is also important to know that when selecting Rainier cherries, the reddish-yellow ones, are naturally less firm than the black cherries. It’s well-known that fresh cherries are found during the summer months. But if you are looking for cherries during the off-season for baking or other recipes, you can find great options in the freezer section and in jars or cans.

How to select the best peaches

PEACHES

Another Summer fruit, peaches should actually look beautiful in order to be ready to eat! Bright yellow color with some redness is a great sign of ripeness – check out the yellow peach on the left. They shouldn’t have bumps or look too mushy. However, peaches with small wrinkles mean they are perfectly ripe and soft enough to enjoy! You can also gently press on them. They should feel entirely firm but a little soft on the spot that you are giving a gentle squeeze. When selecting white peaches (photo on the right) make sure there are no green spots on the white areas as these would still be unripe. Summertime is definitely the best time to find fresh peaches. Hope you find these and more as you select the best fruits!

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Fruit Tips

4 reasons why this is a great gift these holidays

A bowl of fruits is the gift you need to make someone smile these holidays!

During the holidays some of us wonder what to give to our friends and family. There are so many options out there: electronics, clothes, shoes, gift cards, and so on. These are great options but we can be more creative when it comes to presents during the holidays. So, how about fruits?! Wow – that sounds like an easy task already, and it is!

Pomegranates, kiwi, oranges, and a large variety of pears are some of the examples of fruits from this season. Food is easily acceptable as gifts! Check out the 4 reasons why giving a bowl with beautiful winter fruits can be a go-to gift these holidays!

  1. It is easy to prepare a bowl with fruits. You can shop for fruits at your best local market, or you can order online at an online grocery store you trust to deliver good quality produce at your door. I trust my shoppers from Whole Foods, so I just order my fruits and veggies online to be delivered at the comfort of my home. Now all I need to do is to buy a bowl at the store or order it from any online shop. You just need to plan ahead so there is enough time for delivery and you can get the gift ready.
  2. Fruits of the season are healthier and more delicious. Your loved one would be so happy to receive a bowl full of delicious, sweet fruits! When buying fruits in season, it means that they were picked when fully ripened and consequently they taste delicious! Fruits in season also have better nutrition because the nutrients are fully developed once they are completely ripened.
  3. It’s fun to pick out the perfect bowl. Especially in today’s convenient online shop, we can find a large variety of the item we are looking for. You might be looking for a pink bowl because your friend likes that color, or you may think the bamboo kind fits better a family lifestyle. You may also think it’s just easier to have a holiday theme on it! Ideally, for a bowl of fruits, you should be getting a 10 to 12-inch size bowl. You can also wrap your bowl of fruits with a cellophane wrap and add a bowl for a final touch.
  4. Most people love fruits. You can’t get wrong with a bowl of fruits as a gift these holidays! Food items are not only useful, and in this case, fruits are always welcome, and shared too! Your loved ones can enjoy their favorite fruits and maybe share the not so favorite ones with other members in the house. The same goes for the bowl, it can always be a very useful item in the house. Depending on the materials it is made of, you can use it to help you cook in the kitchen or as a decorative item.
Gift these holidays
Gift these holidays
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Fruit Tips

How to boost your afternoons with one simple ingredient

Cucumber capsules – that is how you boost your afternoons!

How to boost your afternoons

Sometimes in the afternoons, we feel a little tired or sleepy, and we need a boost to wake us up and keep the day going! Therefore, we usually grab a cup of coffee, drink sugary drinks, or eat sweets, like a chocolate bar or cookies.

But if you are looking for something on the healthier side and that will give you the same results, eat cucumbers! My kids, for instance, love to eat them, any time of the day! They are sweet and good for you. Cucumbers have enough carbohydrates and B vitamins that will help you feel more energetic. Cucumber juice can also be very helpful!

Before watching the video on how to boost your afternoons by making our easy cucumber capsules check out our post on snacking on grapes. We should always make sure to have healthy snacks, like fresh fruits, available and ready to eat. Now let’s learn these easy steps on how to keep your cucumbers easily ready in the refrigerator for a boost of energy.

Cucumber Capsule by Lovely Mango

We hope that you enjoy this simple idea that can change your eating habits for the better! In addition, you can keep your Cucumber Capsules ready to consume for a couple of days in the fridge. But it’s best to enjoy them within 24 hours!

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Fruit Tips

Try eating grapefruit in a different way

Grapefruit in yogurt is delicious!

I often hear that eating half of a grapefruit a day is very good for our health. Well, in fact, one half of a grapefruit has about 34 mg of Vitamin C, nearly half of the recommended daily intake. You can benefit from eating grapefruit not only because it has lots of antioxidants, but also because its vitamin C helps maintain healthy skin, bones, and teeth, as well as our immune system.

In one of our blog posts, 8 fruits that will boost your immune system, we talk about the importance of fruits that makes you stronger for the winter season, grapefruit is one of them! Another important benefit of this citrus fruit is its amazing anti-inflammatory and bone-regenerating powers. This is because grapefruit is a rich source of naringin. But there is more to that. Narigin found in most citrus fruits can help you against all of these: atherosclerosis, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, osteoporosis and rheumatologic illnesses. No wonder why we hear that eating half a grapefruit a day is so important!

Grapefruits are in season from Fall to Spring because they grow in different parts of the US with different climates. But you are able to find them year round at most grocery stores because they ship well due to their resistant peel. The longer grapefruits are left to ripen on the tree, the sweeter they get. So stay tunned when January comes around.

If you think grapefruits have a tart taste, try eating them with your favorite yogurt. It’s very simple!

Slice half of one grapefruit then cut around the perimeter. In a cup, add a little bit of yogurt then a couple of pieces of grapefruit. Repeat by adding the yogurt and the grapefruit one more time. My daughter Isabella thought this combination tastes sweet and delicious! We hope you enjoy it too!

Cut around the perimeter of the grapefruit slices
Add the slices in a cup with yogurt.

Enjoy it!

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Fruit Tips

Learn how to clean your fruits with one simple tip

Let’s learn how to clean fruits with one simple tip!

There is more we can do than just rinse our fruits and veggies with just water! Some fruits with skin that we won’t eat like oranges, avocados, or papaya, for example, can be washed with soap and water. However, I like to clean most of my fruits and veggies using vinegar and water, that is my one way to clean fruits! Especially the fruits we eat the skin. It makes me feel good when I know I am doing a little extra work to keep my fruits and veggies cleaner and away from any possible virus or bacteria. Let’s learn how to clean your fruits with one simple tip.

Be mindful that this mixture that I am about to show you is not supposed to eliminate the COVID virus, but it should help.

You can use a bowl or a bigger container like a mixing bowl, then add one part white vinegar and five parts water. It’s okay if you add a little extra vinegar in the mixture. Before you add the fruits or veggies into the bowl with the mixture, be sure to rinse them under running water to remove any soil or debris that might be on them. After that, leave the produce in the mixture for about 10 minutes and rinse well. It is also important to let it dry thoroughly before you put the produce in the fridge.

When you have a variety of fruits and vegetables, try to wash these separately. On another note, some people may think that vinegar changes the taste of the fruit or veggie, but I never taste the vinegar. Learn how to clean fruits with this one simple tip! You should try this cleaning method and let us know if you have any questions!

Click here for tips on how to select the best fruits at the grocery store