Mixed Fresh Fruit Salad with Lime and Mint

It always seems so easy to just cut up fruit, squeeze a little lime, toss some brown sugar on top and sprinkle chopped mint straight from my garden.  But that’s all it is and it’s DELICIOUS!  I take this dish to so many potlucks and summer picnics because it so surprisingly simple, but oh so refreshing!  This would be a good side dish with yesterday’s post Spinach and Ricotta Pie with Turkey Sausage Crust.

While berries are still ripe for the picking, it’s a good time to include all of them:  strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.   Berries are some of the most high fiber foods you can eat.  The seeds are tough to break down which in turn helps your digestion; keeps things running smoothly.  Berries are powerful antioxidants including anthocyanins which give berries their vibrant color, reduce inflammation especially for those suffering from arthritis.  Another antioxidant is quercitin which works with anthocyanins to slow age-related memory loss.  Berries are rich in vitamin C, another strong antioxidant, which promotes healthy collagen in the joints, contributes to radiant skin and healthy hair along with reducing risks of arthritis, cataracts and macular degeneration.  Wow!  Eat your berries!

 Other related recipes:

Tomato and Watermelon Salad

Chicken, Melon and Grape Salad

Quinoa Salad with Pineapple, Mango and Edamame