I Fruit acrually healthy?

Beetlebum

Morning Guys,

I've just finished eating my usual bowl of fresh fruit (it varies but usually it's bananna, apple and kiwi) topped with probiotic natural yogurt and dried cranberries.

I always feel great after eating this and it keeps me going until about half eleven when I have a small bowel of porridge.

I'm a slim size 8 so weight is not an issue for me but I'm wondering if this is actually as healthy as I imagine it to be.

After reading through the cereal thread here it got me worried. Is fruit actually that healthy if the vitamin C levels are so low and the sugar content is so high?

I also make smoothies at home all the time. I make them everyday almost.
I chop up apples, oranges and berries and blend with yogurt an dlow fat milk.

Is this actually healthy or am I kidding myself??

I'm also a chocaholic (crave it worse then I did cigarettes when I smoked) so I'm thinking my diet must be actually be jam packed (pun intended - love jam!) full of sugar!

Also, are Innocent Smoothies good for you? I get the feeling there pretty packaging is hiding something sinister..

Thanks Guys

EileenG

It depends what you are comparing it with.

Fruit V sweets, no contest, fruit wins hands down.

Fruit V green veg, the veg wins hands down.

Fruit is a good thing to include in your diet, but be aware of portion sizes and the amount of sugar involved. Generally, you get more nutritional bang for your buck if you start with berries, and go on to local fruits like apples and pears. Tropical imported fruit like banana and kiwi doesn't have the same nutrient/sugar ratio.

Also, the more processed, the fewer benefits. Whole fruits are excellent, smoothies in a carton, not so much.

Nothing particularly wrong with smoothies, as long as you are aware they have a lot of sugar, a lot of calories and almost no fiber. Treat as a meal or snack replacement, not an addition.

Beetlebum

EileenG wrote: »

It depends what you are comparing it with.

Fruit V sweets, no contest, fruit wins hands down.

Fruit V green veg, the veg wins hands down.

Fruit is a good thing to include in your diet, but be aware of portion sizes and the amount of sugar involved. Generally, you get more nutritional bang for your buck if you start with berries, and go on to local fruits like apples and pears. Tropical imported fruit like banana and kiwi doesn't have the same nutrient/sugar ratio.

Also, the more processed, the fewer benefits. Whole fruits are excellent, smoothies in a carton, not so much.

Nothing particularly wrong with smoothies, as long as you are aware they have a lot of sugar, a lot of calories and almost no fiber. Treat as a meal or snack replacement, not an addition.

Thanks for that Eileen.

I would never consider a smoothie a meal though, I just don't feel satisfied unless I've actually eaten something solid. I know it's silly but I also never worry about the calories etc in beer and Guinness which I love. I think because they're liquid it doesn't click with me that they contain calories!

Another question for you, about a half hour after dinner I usually make a juice. I chop up 2-3 carrots, an apple and some ginger and have this. This would be at about 8 o clock at night, sometimes later.
Is this okay? Is it okay to drink veg juic this late in the evening?
I always feel guilty eating fruit late at night too. If I stay up late watching a movie and snack on grapes and an apple I walys feel like I'm being bad.
I hate that food has such a control of my emotions sometimes! Still, nothing will stop me munching on chocolate bars....mmm galaxy:)

EileenG

I've never subscribed to the idea that eating at certain times is good or bad. If it fits your overall diet, it's fine. There is NO evidence that eating at night is any better or worse than eating any other time, as long as the food is appropiate. The problem with night time eating is usually mindless chocolate munching in front of the tv.

Would you consider eating your fruit rather than drinking it?

Beetlebum

I do eat fruit in the mornings topped with yogurt.

I do find that I take longer to fall asleep if I eat chcolate or fruit late at night.
The sugar must be giving me enrgy and keeping me awake even though I'd feel tired.

I remember years ago my dad was on a health kick and was eating tons of fruit.
His foot swelled up one day and he could barely walk. He went to the Doctor who told him all the acid in the fruit had caused the swelling. So I guess everything in moderation is key, even healthy foods!