Choose seasonal fruit this summer

With a huge variety of fruits and vegetables available in our supermarkets year-round, it’s easy to forget seasonal eating has been a mainstay in human cultures for millennia. But with summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start making the most of seasonal fruits.

Simple ways to enjoy more summertime fruits

Summer brings with it loads of mouth-watering fruits to look forward to, such as:

• berries, including blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries
• cherries
• mango
• grapes
• stone fruits, such as peaches and nectarines 
• passionfruit
• pineapple
• watermelon

And if you’re as big a fan of simple, healthy meals as we are, you’ll love that there are all sorts of ways to transform seasonal fruit into delicious– and dead-simple – mealtime staples. Here are a few of our favourite simple summertime fruit recipes:

Juicy grilled pineapple

Summer and barbecues go hand in hand so what better way to enjoy pineapple than caramelising it on the grill alongside classic barbie fare?

Melon salad with oodles of chilli and mint
Cubes of juicy watermelon, honeydew, and rockmelon work wonderfully alongside the zing of chilli and mint in this classic summer salad.

Easy-peasy banana ice cream

If you’re after a healthier alternative to ice cream that’s a breeze to make, just peel, chop and freeze overripe bananas, then blend. Whether it be for you or the kids, it’s the perfect treat on balmy summer days.

Irresistible summer salsa
A fresh, bright salsa made from mango, avocado, coriander, and a squeeze of lime is the perfect accompaniment to just about any main course.

Frozen yoghurt fruit skewers

Dipping skewered fruit into yoghurt and freezing it isn’t just delicious, it’s also a perfect activity for kids during the school holidays!

Enjoy a better balance of nutrients

Mixing it up with seasonal produce means you’re exposed to an ever-changing smorgasbord of fruit. As well as being able to enjoy a variety of uniquely delicious flavours year-round, you also get to benefit from a much wider assortment of beneficial nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

For example, going for grapefruit in winter can support a healthy heart and weight management, while blueberries in summer can help lower your risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Save big with seasonal

When local growers are producing seasonal fruit, there’s typically a plentiful supply – which also means you’ll be paying less for it. Although you’ll find lots of deals at your local supermarket, going to fresh produce or farmers markets will ensure you get the freshest fruit at the cheapest prices. And because they often cut out the middleman, buying from local markets means you’ll also directly support Aussie farmers!

Help out the planet

It may be convenient having an enormous range of produce available in supermarkets year-round, but have you ever considered the logistics involved in transporting a piece of fruit halfway across the world? As it turns out, having a wide range of fruits and vegetables available year-round is great for us, but not for the environment. A big perk of eating local seasonal produce is the reduction of “food miles”. These miles relate to the greenhouse gases created storing and transporting your food before it finds itself on your plate. The more locally grown food you eat, the lower those food miles become!

Start your fresh fruit journey today

It’s easy to see why eating seasonal produce is better for us, the environment, and local Aussie farmers. But if you’re not used to eating seasonally, or have special dietary considerations, it’s not always obvious what seasonal produce is best for you. If you need a bit of advice, our team of knowledgeable personal trainers are always happy to assist with your specific nutritional needs.