Dried fruit in your diet

Making fruits a part of your daily diet  not only reduces the risk of heart disease, and other disease, you also maintain your ideal weight and improve your overall health. Fruit contains a great variety of vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates and fiber so eating the right combination of fruit is good for you.  On certain days when one is too busy to bring along fresh fruit in containers, consider dried fruit that are packed and vacuum sealed in foil. 

Apart from the granola I keep in my small shoulder bag, I also have these tiny packets of dried fruit that I munch on when I need an energy boost or too busy to get lunch. Not only do I stave off the hunger, I also get to follow the 5-a-day fruit consumption. In fact, a  single tablespoon of dried fruit such  as  pineapple, mango, cranberry or papaya  counts  as your five-a -day portions. It can be even higher in certain antioxidants than fresh fruit. Dried fruits are a good source of fiber and roughage which can help to promote colon health. Plus, they have a shelf life of up to a year and take up little shelf space in your cabinets. When you’re ready to eat them, it’s as simple as tearing the wrapper off the package and enjoying them straight from the bag. Sure beats getting that pastry, biscuit or chocolate bar. So keep some fruit in your car, in your bag or on the desk at work to dip into to beat those mid-morning, or mid-afternoon energy lows.