In the nutrition seminar that my gym runs to support the program they implement with their clients, they talk about if you want to eat fruit, eat stone fruit or berries - before 2pm of course. And having observed my husband's experience of the program I could figure out why, so I took to stone fruit with gusto! I have always liked stone fruit - expecially nectarines, but have not ever really bought that much as I had this idea that they bruise easily, so aren't very portable and they don't stay at their optimum eating freshness for very long. But I put these ideas aside and I have been hitting the Peaches, Nectarines and Plums pretty hard!I like to slice up a couple of them and put them on my High Fibre Soy Linseed Porridge in the mornings and nuke them - delicious. And I find cutting them up helps to avoid any bruises (unfortunate surprises). I also carry them with me for morning tea, and find that they are very acceptable to take along to my Philosophy class and cut up and offer to the group, and I am reasonably comfortable about eating them in public, in my car or walking along the street. They are large and juicy and filling. And yet, previously my favourite fruits I would have said would be Apples - especially Pink Ladies, and Bananas - so convenient in their own packaging - but both of those are not great on this diet. Actually I took a large Apple out with me this morning and regretted it, when I saw the amount of carbs that that added to my diet for today, which kinda threw me out. Better choice: Peaches, Nectarines and Plums!
I went to restock today at my favourite fruit and veg and asked one of the guys stocking the shelves with fresh fruit how much longer they were going to be around and he tells me that they are starting to get rarer already (sub text: Haven't you noticed the increasing prices!) I ask him what will come into season next that I can substitute and he says Madarins - which I like but definitely not the same way.
Lucky that Strawberries and blueberries are available year long here! Stay tuned to see how I cope when I can no long find/afford the stone fruit.
So why are Stone Fruit so good for you then?
I found this article which gives five reasons: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/healthy-eating/5-reasons-to-eat-stone-fruit
Which explains it like this:
5 healthy reasons to eat stone fruit
Peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums are great for your health. Here's why a piece of stone fruit makes a healthy and delicious snack
By Margaret Nearing
Tasty stone fruit—so-called because of the stone-like seed inside—make perfect snacks, as they tuck easily into lunch bags or picnic baskets. Here’s what they can do for your health:
Create collagen
A cup (250 mL) of sliced apricots or plums has about one quarter of your daily vitamin C needs. Vitamin C helps the body form collagen—the main protein in connective tissue—in bones, cartilage, muscle and blood vessels. It also helps to increase iron absorption.
Care for your nerves and your muscles
Bored with bananas but want to get enough potassium (key for proper nerve and muscle function)? Two small peaches have slightly more of this essential mineral than a medium banana.
Sharpen eyesight
Apricots are delicious raw, but their carotenoids—antioxidants that give the flesh its vibrant orange colour—become more available to the body when cooked. Beta-carotene, for one, converts to vitamin A to help maintain eyesight, skin membranes and immune function.
Strengthen bones
Two plums contain about one tenth of your daily vitamin K, which helps maintain strong bones. Researchers have found that low levels of vitamin K are associated with an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in hands and knees.
Stay regular
Cut up a peach on your cereal and have a nectarine as a snack. But don’t peel them!The skin provides insoluble fibre that helps prevent constipation.
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