Fruit Salad With Flair Is Perfect for Summer

HEALTHY COOK

- CAROL COR

When you sit down to lunch or dinner, your eyes should feast on the food first. Studies have shown that the prettier a dish looks, the better it seems to taste. What better way to sit down to a pretty meal than to have a fruit salad.

First, it is colorful, and second, it contains fiber, vitamins and minerals, enzymes, and water. Plus, it tends to be low in calories.

Fortunately in Florida, we have lots of wonderful fruits to choose from — starting with berries, which come in so many colors. Berries and citrus are considered by many as the powerhouse of fruits. That would include oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes in addition to our many berries. Also wonderful in fruit salads are watermelon, apple, guava, dragon fruit, kiwi. Many people like to add banana, and a small chopped banana is good for bones. Whatever mix you choose, you should make sure the fruits are fresh. Also, acidic dressings can help keep the fruits from turning brown.

To make the fruit salad a bit unique, you can add chopped nuts, figs, avocados, coconut, mint leaves, raisins, and even chopped greens, hearts of palm, and sliced water chestnuts. You can make the fruit extra special by using a melon baller.

One potential concern of a fruit salad is that it can be high in sugars, so anyone concerned about that should discuss the diet with their doctor.