Whenever possible you should buy fruit and vegetables that are in season. This is when they are at their best and give you the most nutrients as fresher produce has a better nutritional profile than stored produce. Check out a snapshot of fruit and vegetables that will be in their prime in April in Australia and find out how best to use apple and beetroot in your recipes.
Fruit in Season in April
• Apples*
• Bananas
• Custard apples
• Kiwi fruit
• Limes
• Nashi pears
• Pears
• Passionfruit
• Pomegranates
• Persimmons
• Quinces
• Rambutans
• Rockmelons
• Tamarillos
An Apple a Day…
Apples can be used for more than just a snack.
Try grating an apple with some celery and shredded chicken. Mix together with a low fat mayonnaise or some natural yoghurt to use as a wrap filling with sprouts and baby spinach.
If you aren’t going to eat it straight after you make it, toss the grated apple in some lemon juice to prevent it from colouring.
Vegetables in Season in April
• Beetroot*
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbages
• Capsicum
• Fennel
• Leeks
• Mushrooms
• Okra
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
Better Love Beetroot!
Beetroot is coming into its best so take this opportunity to buy it fresh and bake it.
Simply remove the stem but leave the skin on, then wrap it in foil and bake for 45 to 60 minutes depending on the size, but until cooked through.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool in the foil. Once cool, remove the foil and peel. The skin should come off pretty easily.
You can then use the beetroot in salads with low fat feta, spinach, walnuts and even some roasted pumpkin.
Serve warm or cool and if you want a bit more flavour, mix some balsamic vinegar with crushed ginger and pepper to dress.
