Hipsters love kale. Older people love prunes. Kids love anything that’s bright in color. These are just a few stereotypes that hold true in most cases with regard to fresh produce. And while you can definitely add any of these foods to your current diet for a burst of vitamins and minerals, you probably just stick to what you know. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But if you’re making a vested effort to improve your diet in 2022, adding healthy fruits and veggies or superfoods to your plate is a no-brainer. Here are some of the healthiest produce to include in your meals if you want to feel better and look good doing it.
1. Sweet Potatoes
Packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, sweet potatoes are the superfood that might have gone under the radar due to their seasonal consumption. And while most sweet potatoes are in season from October to March, different regions of the country provide fresh sweet potatoes almost year-round.
Some of the nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes per serving include:
- Over 700% of your daily value (DV) of vitamin A
- 6.6 grams of fiber
- Antioxidants
- Support for vision and anti-carcinogenic properties
2. Broccoli
Whether sauteed, steamed, or raw, broccoli provides a powerful punch of nutrition. While you should avoid the temptation to smother it in cheese sauce, you can add spices or even some lemon to make the broccoli really pop with flavor.
Regardless of how you choose to enjoy it, broccoli provides a number of vitamins and nutrients, as well as other health benefits in a single serving such as:
- 90% of your DV of vitamin C
- 78% of your DV of vitamin K
- 64% of your DV of vitamin A
- Glucoraphanin, which combats inflammation
- Sulforaphane, which reduces your risk of type-2 diabetes
3. Cherries
Few other fruits provide the diverse flavors of cherries. So whether you love them sweet or tart, these tasty red morsels are ideal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even dessert. No matter what variety you choose, you’ll get tons of health benefits, including:
- Low in calories
- High in fiber
- Low in sugar, which means your blood sugar levels won’t be affected
- High in vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K
4. Raspberries
Tart yet sweet and satisfying, raspberries are a healthy fruit you need to add to your diet to delight your taste buds and your overall health. Perfect for adding to granola, yogurt, or breakfast cereal, you don’t have to add a ton of sugar or additives to make these fruits taste great.
Raspberries also have plenty of nutritional advantages, including:
- 8 grams of fiber
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin B and vitamin C
- Manganese and potassium
Shop Fresh and Shop Local
While you can find any of these fruits and veggies at your local supermarket, there’s an advantage to shopping local. Not only will you taste the difference, but you’ll support local growers and small businesses at the same time. Providing a livelihood for others while simultaneously staying healthy sounds like a great mix. So do yourself a favor: shop fresh and shop local. There are few other things that can boost your mental and physical well-being. We may not provide all the produce we discuss here, but we do provide a select menu of the finest and freshest produce to your local grocers. Look for the DLJ Produce label and taste the freshness.
