How to Select the Most Nutritious and Delicious Produce
Due to high public demand for food, unreliable sources of agricultural products have been on the rise. It can be a challenge to pick the healthiest, safest, most nutritious fruits and vegetables.
The following tips can help make your shopping experience a little less stressful.
Avocado
Avocados should feel heavy and firm, but not hard. The skin should give just slightly when pressed, and it should not be mushy. Avoid those that rattle when shaken or that are extremely soft. Very firm avocados can be placed in a paper bag on the counter for a few days to ripen.
Apples
When it comes to apples, consider the more colorful ones. Keeping that in mind will ensure your choices are the most nutritious.
Tropical Fruits
Unlike the fruit in North America, tropical fruit is often viewed as less nutritious. But choosing the ripest ones can boost their nutritional quality. For papaya, opt for ones with green leaves. Ripe mangoes have a fruity smell and should be soft when you squeeze them.
Vegetables
The process for selecting good vegetables is the same as the fruits. But with new or unfamiliar vegetables, you may need to ask a few more questions of shop owners or farmers to ensure you’re picking the best ones.
Asparagus
Choose those with firm, brightly colored, smooth stalks, and avoid any limp ones. The thicker the stalks, the longer you will have to cook them to avoid toughness.
How to incorporate healthy foods into your diet
The problem many people run into when trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet is not knowing how to prepare them. Don't let the unknown deter you!
Here are a few ways to get you off to a great start with more fruits and vegetables.
Add avocado to Ezekial toast or gluten-free toast
Lost your appetite for sandwiches? Instead of margarine or butter, add avocado to your bread. It may help bring back your cravings for a good old-fashioned sandwich. Avocados can help lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of hypertension.
Blend Healthy Beans into Smoothies
Try blending beans into your regular smoothies. It's simple to do and helps your smoothie pack an even more powerful healthy punch such as lentils. You can also add sprouts, as they are packed with nutrients.
The beauty of fruits and vegetables is that there are endless ways to prepare them. You will never tire of a healthy diet when you have such a wide variety of yummy ingredients to choose from!
XO,
Alex
