Last Chance: Peaches & Nectarines

The sweet yellow flesh of Peaches and Nectarines make them two of my favorite fruits. Peaches and Nectarines can both be found from about May to September so as Summer draws to a close, this may be your last chance to find them in your grocery store or farmer's market.

At only about 60 calories each, these fruits contain about 2 grams of fiber, and are filled with about 10% of your daily needs for Vitamin A and even more Vitamin C (Peaches 17%; Nectarines 13%). So why is this so great?...


Well, we've already discussed how fiber is important for weight management and for controlling levels of cholesterol and glucose in the blood. Vitamin A is important to eye health and may lower your risk for certain cancers. Vitamin C is involved in fighting infection. Both vitamins are antioxidants, which help prevent chronic disease by protecting against cell damage.

At your local market, select fruits that:
Yield to slight pressure
Have no bruises or soft spots
Have a rich yellow background color

Allow them to ripen at room temperature and refrigerate after ripe.

Enjoy grilled Peaches and Nectarines tossed over greens, like this Spinach Salad from Food Network's the Neelys or eat them my favorite way: sliced over waffles like Van's Belgian Multigrain Waffles.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / Porbital

The sweet yellow flesh of Peaches and Nectarines make them two of my favorite fruits. Peaches and Nectarines can both be found from about May to September so as Summer draws to a close, this may be your last chance to find them in your grocery store or farmer's market.

At only about 60 calories each, these fruits contain about 2 grams of fiber, and are filled with about 10% of your daily needs for Vitamin A and even more Vitamin C (Peaches 17%; Nectarines 13%). So why is this so great?...


Well, we've already discussed how fiber is important for weight management and for controlling levels of cholesterol and glucose in the blood. Vitamin A is important to eye health and may lower your risk for certain cancers. Vitamin C is involved in fighting infection. Both vitamins are antioxidants, which help prevent chronic disease by protecting against cell damage.

At your local market, select fruits that:
Yield to slight pressure
Have no bruises or soft spots
Have a rich yellow background color

Allow them to ripen at room temperature and refrigerate after ripe.

Enjoy grilled Peaches and Nectarines tossed over greens, like this Spinach Salad from Food Network's the Neelys or eat them my favorite way: sliced over waffles like Van's Belgian Multigrain Waffles.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / Porbital