Fruity Diet

Though summer brings with it the unwanted heat, this is also the season when one can indulge in exotic summer fruits. Summer season brings with it the gift of different juicy fruits. So this summer binge in to the fruits!

The king of the fruits - Mango is available in abundant all through this season. Sweet and juicy they come in various varieties like Safeda, Langra, Chausa, Totapari (the desi varieties). The real tasty ones are Alphanso mangoes which are exported to other countries as well. Well, if one feels like sucking the mango then there are special mangoes that are available. It can be a delight when little pieces of mango are added to a scoop of ice-cream. The best way to have mangoes is to place them in water and let them cool for some time. And then one can have it the way one feels like.

Cool the summer heat with melons. The juicy Water Melons are the best diet to cool off the sultry summer sun. Water Melons are rich in zinc and potassium. And of course lot of water. They are a perfect food for a hot summer afternoon, particularly when one is not feeling hungry. It is a delicious sweet fruit that is perfect for a dessert. The melon seeds can be dried and later eaten raw or can be used as an ingredient in food.

The sumptuous red Plums are definitely a great temptation. They are sweet and a little sour in taste. Rich in iron they make light summer snacks. Peaches and Pears make a sweet and light combination in the summers. They are the heavenly fruits. When they are mixed with other fruits they lend a sweet flavour to them.

The Gods have used it to make a the Sura (wine) out of it. Man has for ages fermented it to make the most wanted drink. Grapes - the favourite fruit of all. Grapes have been relished by people for ages. It is the royal fruit. Very rich in vitamins they can be popped any time into the mouth and one need not worry about the calories. They make great dessert toppings.

Bite into the devouring variety of Apples. Binge the golden apples and the red apples of Himachal Pradesh. Or eat the delicious Strawberries or the Apricots.

Well if one does not like to eat fruits, then the best alternative to taste them is to have their juice. Besides being nourishing they are very refreshing too. Instead of a soft drink go for a fresh fruit juice which is more healthy.

Summer is the best time to have fruits. And if one does not feel like having separate fruits then one can have a Potpourri of these fruits with a little dash of ice-cream or custard. All these fruits are not only rich in vitamins and minerals but constitute a healthy diet.

- Avni Sood