There’s no better way to welcome summer than with a healthy helping of fruit and some fresh vegetables. But remember to wash all raw produce before eating, even if they come bagged. Even fruits with hard rinds like watermelon and cantaloupe should be rinsed since any bacteria on the fruit’s surface that can make you sick will transfer to the edible flesh when you cut into it. Contaminated produce can spread infections from bacteria like salmonella, listeria and E.coli, which can cause serious illness involving diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration — not something any wants to contend with on the holiday.
Chef Chad Sarno, the Health Starts Here Healthy Eating Chef for Whole Foods Market, recommends throwing fruit on the grill for a quick and sweet dessert. “Grilling fruit caramelizes the sugars and adds a truly delicious twist,” he says.
Recipe: Grilled Pineapple With Balsamic Honey Glaze
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients
1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high-heat cooking.
In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, honey and five-spice powder. Add pineapple slices, a couple at a time, and toss to coat with glaze. Grill until warmed and marked on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes, turning over halfway through cooking and brushing with remaining glaze while cooking.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories: 160 , Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 10mg, Carbohydrate: 41g, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Sugars: 34g, Protein: 1g