Mmmmm! STRaWBeRRieS!!!

This is my favorite time of the year - strawberries' season!!! What's better than freshly picked strawberries? I've always loved them! Even though I buy them quite regularly during the winter (god bless California for growing them all year long!!!), there's nothing like locally grown strawberries, perfectly ripe and sweet!

In addition to be a very good source of vitamin C, this fruit is also loaded with health-protective phytonutrients such as phenolics and ellagic compounds as well as flavonoids which all have powerful antioxidant properties. Mmmm!

Nutrition facts for ½ cup of strawberries: 28 calories, 0.3 g fat, 6.7 g carbohydrate, 2.0 g fibers, 0.6 g protein. My comment: Strawberries are a fabulous healthy treat everybody should enjoy. It's low in calories, high in fibers and antioxidants, and therefore constitute a wonderful dessert or snack. It can also be added to salad, layered in a yogurt parfait or in a shortcake, mixed in a fruit salad or in your breakfast cereal, simply dipped in yogurt or even a little whipped cream, and my favorite above all, dipped in dark chocolate...! Delicious!

Above: a beautiful fruit salad including diced watermelon, blueberries and slices of strawberries.