There’s nothing more delicious than when you take a bite out of beautiful fresh fruit!  These colorful and flavor packed foods are all unique and contain many health benefitting nutrients.  One of the first steps you can take to eat healthier is to start adding more fruits to your diet.  Here are a few quick and easy ways to add color to your plate and fruit to your day!

1. Smoothie. If you have a blender then a fruit smoothie is a quick way to enjoy fruits on the go! You can enjoy a smoothie for breakfast on your way out the door or during a midday break.  There are many ingredients  you can combine with your fruit. Additions like yogurt and chia seeds will help make it more nutritious and delicious.  Be careful though, fruit smoothies contain a lot of sugar so you want to pay attention to how frequently you are having them.
2. Salad. Whether you’re a fan of fruit salads or leafy green salads, fruit can be the perfect addition to give it that little something extra. I love adding sliced apples and pecans to my red leaf or romaine salad.  Orange slices are another great way to pack some extra flavor and nutrition with your greens.  During the summer one of my all favorites is a straight up fruit salad.  These can be a big hit at BBQs too!  Just wash and/or peel your fruit, slice them, and  combine them together in a bowl.  A fun way to make this more festive is to use a fruit shell such as a pineapple or watermelon as a serving bowl.
3. Whole fruit. These beauties are perfect on their own, so there’s no need to do anything to them other than wash, peel, and eat! They make the perfect midday snack or accompaniment to your lunch sandwich.  For breakfast, I like to finish filling out the borders of my plate with berries or sliced peaches.  Their intense flavors make them the ideal addition to any meal!
4. Yogurt topping. If you are a yogurt lover then you’ll enjoy dressing up velvety smooth, plain yogurt with fruit! This will add a little flavor and crunch. Changing up your fruit each day will make every spoonful exciting and fresh.  Try different combinations of berries and fruit to find out what you like the best.  If you have a fridge at work this is good snack to have during your busy day.
5. Dessert treat. If you are craving something sweet every now and then it’s okay to treat yourself! Melt dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher) and dip your favorite fruit.  Dark chocolate has some health benefits, but make sure to enjoy in moderation.  After you dip your fruit slices place them on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.  Then wait for them to cool and the chocolate to harden.  Once there is a chocolate shell covering take a bite!

Adding fruit to your day is a simple step to eating healthier!  I hope these suggestions will help you to make the first move and explore what you are putting in your body.  Not sure what to start with?  Go to a local fruit market to see what’s in season.  The possibilities are endless!