Start you Day with Fruit

Summer’s bounty is here at last! Trying to keep up with all the vegetables and fruits that this season brings can be a daunting task, but I’m up for the challenge! You all know by now that a diet that is based around vegetables and fruits (and beans, nuts and seeds) is the ONLY way to go for optimum health and longevity. Why not start your day off with a big bowl of summer’s finest?

I can think of no better way to get in 2 ro 3 servings of fruit for breakfast than to fill a bowl with blueberries, sliced strawberries and peaches. Add a dash of cinnamon if you like and dive in! For those of you who need a bit more protein for breakfast, sprinkle on a tablespoon of sunflower or pumpkin seeds, ground flax or salba seeds or nuts. Add a dolop of organic plain Greek yogurt and party on!

The goal here is to start your day off with flavor, color, and major antioxidants! By choosing different color fresh fruits, you maximize your intake of phytonutrients that will protect you throughout the day. Also, by taking in lots of these elements, you also give yourself sunprotection from the inside out—yep, these antioxidants in fruits actually help prevent sun damage from free radicals, and prevent premature aging of the skin. Colorful fruits are also packed with fiber which will keep you regular- a bowel movement a day keeps colon cancer away! And did I mention low-calorie? A huge bowl of fruit will only max out at a couple hundred calories (adding seeds and nuts will add more) and a ton of nutrients– that’s major nutrient density in a bowl and that’s what you should be striving for with each meal.

So go to your local farmer’s market and shop till you have a rainbow of coloful fruits in your bag! Enjoy the season’s finest gifts and start your day off the right way!