Winter Fruit: How To Get Your Favorites Out Of Season

By Matthew Kadey, R.D.

You've been told a trillion times not to buy produce out of season. But that doesn't mean you have to skip the fruits you love this time of year. It's just a matter of knowing which version is the healthiest and tastiest.

"In the winter, frozen or dried options may have a leg up over fresh when it comes to flavor and nutrition," says Elizabeth Somer, R.D., author of Eat Your Way Sexy. In other cases, fresh is still the way to go. Here's your guide to making the best picks now.

Comments

[mzrecycle]

08:33 AM on 12/12/2011

I wait every summer for blueberry picking time. I have a couple special places to pick. I enjoy a lot fresh, and freeze the rest on a cookie sheet. Then put them in bags so I can use them as needed. They seem more tart that the big, store-bought berries, but that's just because they're chockfull of those anti-oxidants.
I have some wild blueberry bushes in my woods, but in several years, I've only gotten one berry. The bears or birds get them all.

[JFaye]

09:01 PM on 12/11/2011

Talking with older family members (eighties and nineties) who live relatively healthy lives and they attribute the longevity and good health to eating seasonally.... Yes, DNA plays a part. (Most of aunts and uncles are either on the West coast or live south.) A couple of years ago, made the decision to eat seasonal foods... Dried fruits are included as well the wild frozen blueberries. No Chilean fruit in a while ... The one difference I've noticed is fewer to none allergy/sinus issues ... Obviously, nothing scientific ...

[Klad InVermont]

07:48 PM on 12/11/2011

Thanks! A great article. I love dried cherries and I'll get my blueberries frozen, till they turn up fresh next year

[carol99806]

07:34 PM on 12/11/2011

How about watermelon?

[madcityy]

03:06 PM on 12/11/2011

THIS IS A LIFE SAVER ITEM

[Mochilero]

01:04 PM on 12/11/2011

A lot easier is to spend the winter in Mexico or Thailand. I don't want anyone to know how cheaply one can live in these places.

[pst2868]

05:00 PM on 12/11/2011

I know. If I can leave my family behind I would spend the winter in Bangkok.
Thailand is hot and tropical fruits are avaiable year round.
Also it is a lot safer than Mexico.