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Pluots, Apriums, Plumcots, Apriplums: What's the Difference?

Sara Yoo — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:05:34 PDT

At farmers markets, vendors are just beginning to display normal-looking fruits with unusual names - pluots, plumcots, apriums, apriplums - that sound more like orbs of the astral variety than edible delights. So what are they anyway? Keep reading to find out.

How Much Fiber Is in That: Fruit

FitSugar — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:30:05 PDT

Fiber, fiber, fiber. We all know we should be getting enough. It's recommended that women eat 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day to decrease the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as some types of cancer including breast cancer.

Eating plenty of fresh, luscious fruits in your diet is a great way to fill up on fiber, but which sources are the best? Keep reading to see a chart comparing the fiber content of your favorite fruits.

Can You Identify Spring Produce?

Susannah Chen — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:56:08 PDT

Spring is definitely in the air and we're pumped - not only for a newly sparkling kitchen (thanks to Spring cleaning!), but also, in particular, for the colorful and diverse produce that the season brings with it.

Perhaps you're as enthusiastic about the new crop as we are, and you know your vernal vegetables and fruits inside and out.

Can you spot the Spring produce at farmers markets? Let's find out when you take this quiz.

Take the Quiz

Taste the Rainbow

Camilla Salem — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:00:49 PDT

In honor of Eco Month, we want to take this week to appreciate all of the colorful, nutritious, flavorful produce that we get to enjoy. Last week, we scoured the shelves of our local Whole Foods Market for the most colorful ingredients, from bright red bell peppers to deep purple cabbage. We're going to be taking a look at all of the colors of the produce rainbow and chatting about our favorite ways to enjoy them. Keep checking all week long for lots of colorful culinary inspiration.

Healthy Snack: Creamy Peanut Buttery Apples With Grapes

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:35:34 PDT

Craving something crunchy and nutty but don't want all the calories and fat that come along with straight-up peanut butter? Here's a sweet low-cal alternative that's also high in protein (over eight grams per serving!).

This filling and fun-looking snack is great for a postworkout treat and is even sweet enough to satisfy your dessert cravings.

It's only 150 calories, so keep reading to see this simple snack recipe.

3 Ways Fruit Can Cause Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:19:17 PST

Although many diets suggest limiting fruit intake due to sugar and carb levels, fresh fruit is a low-cal source of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber. That said, there are still ways that eating fruit can lead to unwanted weight gain. Keep reading to see which ways to avoid eating fruit when looking to lose weight.

Drinking It
A medium orange contains 62 calories and 3.1 grams of fiber. On the other hand, an eight-ounce glass of OJ will run you 108 calories and offer zero grams of fiber. Juice may be an easy way to take in vitamins and minerals, but it's usually high in calories and lacking in fiber. If you can't forgo that daily cup of juice, at least cut back on sugar by enjoying a blend of fresh-pressed fruit and vegetables.

Keep reading for two more ways eating fruit can lead to weight gain.

Ask the Diet Doctor: Is Fruit Really a "Free" Diet Food?

Shape — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:56:35 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to nutritional consultant Mike Roussell, PhD, for some help!

Q: Can I really eat as much fresh fruit as I want and still lose weight?

A: Unfortunately, no. Fresh fruit is a healthy choice and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants; however fruit still contains calories and carbohydrates. These are two things that can stop your weight-loss progress in its tracks if left unchecked.

Whether or not you should eat fruit while dieting has always been a controversial topic. The Internet is cluttered with articles claiming that eating fruit will make you fat, while more recently Weight Watchers has deemed fruit a "zero points food" as part of the Points Plus system, allowing dieters to eat all the fruit they want without it impacting their daily points total.

Which is correct? Is your daily cup of blueberries to blame for that extra layer of belly fat you can't seem to burn off? Or is it an innocent bystander in your quest for your ideal body? One of the reasons that fruit is so controversial is because it can be a double-edged sword. While fruit is a very nutritious food that should be included in a weight-loss diet, there may come a time when you will need to reduce or temporarily remove fruit from your diet to reach your goals. Let's take a closer look at both sides of this controversy.

Find out if fruit is good for a diet after the break!

6 Ways to Enjoy the Goodness of Fruit For Dinner

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:00:07 PST

We enjoy blueberries in our yogurt, fruit smoothies for snacks, and raspberry sorbet for dessert, but fruit with dinner is often overlooked. Get inspired to enjoy the sweet juiciness of fruit with these delicious dinner ideas.

5 Easy Ways to Eat More Fruit

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:57:13 PST

Luscious, juicy, sweet-as-candy fruit is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It's full of vitamins, fiber to keep you full, water to keep you hydrated, and the natural sugars make it a healthier alternative to sugary treats. You should aim to eat three to six servings of fruit each day, but if that seems like a lot, here are some ways to sneak fruit into your diet.

Add fruit slices to sandwiches. Sliced pear, apple, and watermelon add a unique texture and unexpected flavor to run-of-the-mill sammies.
Mix pureed fruit into plain yogurt. When comparing six-ounce containers of Greek yogurt, plain offers 18 grams of protein for 100 calories, and strawberry is 140 calories with 14 grams of protein. Instead of buying the premade flavors, make your own by adding pureed fruit to plain yogurt. You'll save money, avoid added sugars, and be able to customize the flavor to wow your taste buds with distinct combos like blackberry peach or strawberry pear.
Add fruit to baked goods. We've all made banana bread, but that's not the only fruit-based treat you can whip up. Lower the fat in just about any recipe by replacing oil with applesauce, or get creative with muffin recipes by adding diced strawberries, or mix bits of dried apricots into cookie dough.
Cut up fruit and store it in the fridge. It takes effort to wash and cut fruit, enough to make you reach for something easier (and less healthy) instead. Make fruit as accessible as a bag of chips by storing cut up fruit in containers in the fridge.
Eat fruit for dessert. Save calories and skip the refined sugars by enjoying nature's dessert. Here are ways to make fruit even more decadent and enticing - the almond butter and granola filled dates are one of my faves.

What 100 Calories Really Look Like: Fresh Fruit

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:30:45 PST

I'm constantly craving juicy, refreshing fruit, and although it's low in fat, it's not void of calories. If you're watching what you eat, it's good to know how many calories you're consuming, so here are some visuals to let you know just what 100 calories of your favorite fruits look like.