Every year certain foods become more popular because of some newly discovered nutritional property, or their virtues are touted by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey or Martha Stewart. So here’s my list of this year’s most popular nutritional foods:
1. MANGOSTEEN Where it’s from: Southeast Asia What it tastes like: Very sweet, similar to a strawberry or peach How to eat it: The Mangosteen’s dark purple rind is cracked open to reveal a soft opaque fruit, which can be eaten fresh or juiced.
2. RAMBUTAN Where it’s from: Southeast Asia What it tastes like: Juicy, tangy and sweet How to eat it: Slice this prickly fruit open. Inside is a jelly-like substance (packed with vitamins A and C) that tastes good by itself or mixed in a fruit salad.
3. NONI What it is: A tropical fruit from the Pacific Islands, full of vitamin C and fiber. How to eat it: Peeled and then juiced. What it tastes like: Growers talk of the fruit’s “smokey coconut” flavor and say its juice blends well with apple or cranberry juice.
4. ACAI BERRIES What they taste like: Slightly bitter, with a hint of chocolate. How to eat them: Not by the handful! Packed with antioxidants, these berries (which come from the Amazon palm tree) are best enjoyed as a juice or blended into a smoothie.
5. STEVIA PLANT What it is: This South American herb, used in the Truvia line of sweeteners, is all-natural and has zero calories. How to eat it: One packet of Truvia is equal to 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar.
6. GOJI BERRIES What they are: Dried Himalayan superfruits with nutrients that boost the immune system. What they are: Like Black raisins How to eat them: By the handful: for those with a sweet tooth, try coating in chocolate.
7. TURBINADO SUGAR Why it’s good for you: Although it tastes like regular brown sugar, there are no artificial colors or flavorings. How to eat it: Its large crystals make this sweetener a good choice when baking.
8. AGAVE NECTAR Why it’s good for you: Because it can be 25 percent sweeter than table sugar, you can use less of the Mexican cactus extract. How to eat it: Agave is a great substitute for honey or white sugar in your coffee or tea.
9. PALM SUGAR What it is: Harvested from the palm trees, it’s an all natural sweetener. How to eat it: Sprinkled on top of fruit or blended with cinnamon or vanilla, for when you need a little extra sugar fix.
Related posts:
- A Sweetener That’s Actually Good for You????
- The Health Benefits of Acai Berry…From a Skeptical Doctor’s Perspective
- Healthy Snack Recipes
- More Healthy Snack Recipes
- Healthy Eating Tips So You Don’t Need to Diet
