MeatLess March

Fruits are nature’s sweets. They are the part of a plant that contains the ripening seeds - in a sense, the female part of the plant. By this definition, many foods that we call vegetables are actually the fruits of their respective plants. For example, tomatoes, squash and string beans all contain seeds. But in practical terms, what we commonly refer to as fruit is the seed-bearing part of plants that also consists of sweet flesh that we usually eat raw.

Fruits are high in carbohydrates. In fact, they are almost entirely composed of sugars. But unlike refined sugars used to sweeten our cereal, coffee or baked goods, fruits also contain high concentrations of vitamins, certain minerals and nutrients known as phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are compounds derived from plants that are thought to have a variety of health benefits. For example, phytochemicals known as bioflavonoids are found in abundance in the inner rinds of oranges and other citrus fruits. Bioflavonoids are a kind of “super antioxidant” that prevents cell damage and is thought to help prevent a range of diseases, including cancer.

The fruits we usually think of as berries are small, juicy, brightly colored and do not have a pit. They are usually round or oblong and brightly colored. However, by the botanical definition of berries, most fruits we call berries are not really berries at all. A true berry has seeds and pulp formed from a single ovary within the flower of a plant. Bilberries, huckleberries and currants are true berries. More commonly eaten, but not true berries are blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. The flesh of these fruits is formed outside the flower.

 In either case, berries are a tasty part of a healthy diet. Nature created berries in a variety of bright colors mainly to attract birds and other animals. Animals eat berries and spread their seeds. Berries are also small with thin skins so they will be easy to eat. It’s all part of nature’s design to reproduce the berry plants. It turns out that the same chemicals that give berries their color and thin skin are also extremely healthy for humans. In fact, many berries are considered to be “super foods” because of their high concentration of phytonutrients. Berries are also packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein; and they are very low in fat and calories. A cup of strawberries, for instance, contains only 50 calories and 160% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C.