Spring Is Here And That Means Strawberries Are Everywhere!

YUM! Not only are they good for you but they taste great too! Chop em up and add them to your cereal. What better way to start your day than knowing you've got a nutrient packed with little calorie cutie frutie!
Strawberries are not only good to eat, they are also "good for us." They are an especially tasty source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). In fact, one cup of fresh strawberries provides about 88 milligrams of ascorbic acid, which more than meets the Recommended Daily Dietary allowance of 45 milligrams for the average adult. Vitamin C is well retained when the strawberries are handled carefully. Capping, injuring, cutting, or juicing, however, will reduce the vitamin content.

Strawberries are low in calories: one cup of unsweetened strawberries has only 55 calories.

Eight (8) medium-sized strawberries has:

140% of the Daily Value for vitamin C

12% of the Daily Value for dietary fiber

Only 7 grams of sugar (lowest among the top-selling fruits)

A source of folate and potassium

Only 45 calories

The best strawberries are the ones you pick yourself from your local strawberry fields. If you don't have a field close by then choose locally grown strawberries during the harvesting season from your grocery store or farmers market. Don't forget, strawberry season only lasts 3 to 4 weeks so get extra and freeze some for later!

When purchasing berries from the grocery store, shop with your nose. Always pick the plumpest and most fragrant berries. They should be firm, bright, and fresh looking with no mold or bruises, and fresh green caps. The caps should be bright green, fresh looking and fully attached. Berries should be dry and clean; usually medium to small berries have better eating quality than large ones. Did you know strawberries won't ripen once they're picked? Pass the green ones and go for the red juicy gems.