How to Eat Fresh Fruits in Winter

Nutrition guides emphasize the need for making sure there are fresh fruits and vegetables in the daily diet, no matter the time of year. Eating fresh fruits in winter presents a challenge, since much of what's available is imported and pricey, but it's still possible to get the benefits without affecting your pocketbook.

Things You'll Need

• Grocery store flyers

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Instructions

• 1

  Get to know winter fresh fruits. Any fruit in season is less expensive than something out of season imported from another country. Oranges and grapefruits are in season from January through May and often on special at grocery stores.

• 2

  Remember bananas. While an imported fruit, bananas are often inexpensive and an excellent source of potassium and vitamins.

• 3

  Look for strawberries in late January and early February. The Florida crop hits northern stores in the new year and hits its peak, with decent prices and taste, during these months.

• 4

  Try flash-frozen fresh fruits in winter. New techniques for preserving fruits keep the taste and texture in traditional summer fruits such as strawberries, along with their rich vitamin C.

• 5

  Check out dried fruits. They have the vitamins and fiber of fresh fruits and make a good winter alternative. Sugar content is slightly higher, so be aware of calories, if necessary.

• 6

  Watch the flyers from grocery stores and local fruit outlets. A bumper crop of imported fruits pushes prices down, and this is the time to snap up out of season fresh fruits at a reasonable cost.

• 7

  Prepare fresh fruits during the harvest in late summer and fall for consumption in winter. There are simple techniques for freezing and canning that keep the great just-picked taste and all the nutrients.