Add strawberries to your diet

Although strawberries are in season all year round, the sweet aroma and brilliant red color of these flavorsome berries set the tone for spring and summer. If you are headed to a springtime party or a graduation celebration, take some strawberries with you. They are a sweet and nutritious snack you can take anywhere.

Strawberries are packed with nutrition and taste. One serving of eight medium-sized strawberries has only 80 calories and provides 160 percent of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C.

That is more than oranges and apples combined. Strawberries are also rich in folate, fiber and potassium.

Strawberry eaters, listen up. National surveys revealed that, compared to non-strawberry eaters, strawberry eaters tend to have lower blood pressure, higher blood folate levels, lower body weight, higher potassium, higher vitamin C and dietary fiber intake, and lower levels of homocysteine.

For best flavor, select strawberries that are plump and firm with a bright red color and natural shine. Avoid strawberries with green or white color or if they appear to be mushy or shriveled. Do not wash berries until you are ready to eat them. They will get mushy if washed and stored.

Strawberries can be eaten alone for a light dessert, or they can be used as a topping for salads, desserts, cakes or pancakes. They are great in fruit smoothies or mixed and matched with other fruits to make a fruit kabob. Try this refreshing strawberry recipe at your next gathering.



Spa Turkey Salad

Serves 4     

Prep time: 10 minutes



All you need:

1/4 cup orange marmalade

1/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt

2 tbsp. lime juice

Lettuce leaves

1 lb. thick-sliced deli low-sodium turkey breast, cut into chunks

2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced

1 cup grapes

3/4 cup sliced celery

1/2 cup chopped red onion



All you do:

1. In small bowl whisk together marmalade, yogurt and lime juice; set aside.  Line platter with lettuce leaves.

2. Top lettuce leaves with turkey, strawberries, grapes, celery and onion.  Drizzle with yogurt dressing



Per serving: 

271 calories, 39 g carbohydrate, 27 grams protein, 2 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 5 grams fiber, 38 miligrams cholesterol, 690 miligrams sodium.