When you think of paradise do you picture sunshine, relaxation and plenty of sleep? There’s something else do add to the list – exotic fruit. No paradise island is complete without deliciously ripe and sweet exotic fruit that can liven up the palate, plate and spirits in your land of heaven.
Exotic fruits are an absolute must to explore as they are delicious, weird and wonderful. They are packed with an incredible dose of nutrition and, when in season, offer the most amazingly sweet taste. Of course the well-known fruits such as apples and pears are fantastic but sometimes it can be good to step aside from the usual and try something new to boost your taste buds.
If you are going abroad this year be sure to look out for the exotic fruits and give them a go. If you are at home doing the weekly supermarket shop look out for any exotic fruits that are available and add them to the cart.
Here are 7 exotic fruits that are fantastic for taste, nutrition and health.
1. Banana
Starting with the popular fruit we all love and trust. You can’t go wrong with a banana! Creamy, rich and sweet, bananas are a favourite food amongst many from babies to the elderly. Bananas are a great source of vitamin B6, C, manganese, fibre and potassium. They are an excellent source of carbohydrates making them fantastic for energy and health. Also, due to the fibre and carbohydrate content they are great for digestion.
2. Mango
When in season mangoes are absolutely delicious. They are sweet and ripe making any normal fruit lover become a mango addict! They are a rich source of antioxidants, providing high levels of vitamins A, C and E for immune strength, healthy skin, bones and eyes. Mangoes are a great source of energy so be sure to add them to your daily breakfast!
3. Papaya
Papayas are sweet, juicy and have an incredibly soft consistency. The papaya offers a luscious tropic colour and taste making them an essential for the exotic fruit shelf. They are rich in antioxidants and provide a huge amount of vitamin C, as well as vitamin A and potassium which helps to build strong immunity, healthy hair, bones and skin. In addition, papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain, which is great for aiding digestion.
4. Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is a tropical fruit with amazing rich purple skin and bright yellow seed-filled flesh. It has an incredible aroma and immense sweet flavour making it fantastic to eat on its own or added to a smoothie. This fruit is packed with fibre, vitamin A and C making them excellent for supporting immunity, skin, bones, joints and eye health.
5. Persimmon
A completely ripe persimmon fruit is soft, very sweet and tasty. Persimmons have a very high vitamin and mineral content, including vitamins A, C, E and B6, as well as fibre, manganese, copper, magnesium and potassium. Due to the excellent dose of nutrition they are a great source of food for promoting a healthy body full of energy.
6. Pineapple
Pineapples are a vibrant tropical fruit packed with incredible juice and flavour. Raw fresh pineapple has a phenomenal dose of vitamin C making them a great source of food for boosting immunity. Second to this nutrient is the good dose of manganese which can help to promote healthy skin. Pineapple also contains the digestive enzyme bromelain, which is known to support digestion.
7. Avocado
The avocado is a fruit but is slightly different due to its high fat content. This does not make avocados a bad food, as the fats provide a great dose of nutrition to the body. Avocados are packed with fatty acids that help to support brain, heart and skin health. The right fats are essential to your daily nutrition and avocados are packed with them! So adding avocados to your diet would be a great place to start incorporating more good fats your body needs. Plus, they are a good source of fibre which will help digestive health.
Serving Suggestions
- Banana and Mango Smoothie Bowl – Add 2 to 3 large bananas and ½ mango to a blender and blend until smooth. Serve up and enjoy in a bowl with a spoon.
- Exotic Smoothie – Add 1 to 2 bananas, ½ mango, handful of each of fresh pineapple and papaya chunks, the flesh of 1 passion fruit and the flesh of 1 persimmon to a blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a bowl or glass and enjoy.
- Pineapple, Mango and Avocado Salsa – Add a handful of chopped pineapple and mango to a bowl. Add ½ avocado chopped to the bowl. Add the juice of ½ lime to the bowl. Optional: add fresh herbs such as coriander or basil to the mix. Stir everything together and serve.
- Exotic Salad – To add a fresh twist to a salad try one or two of the fruits mixed in with the green leaves. Mango, avocado, persimmon or pineapple work really well in a salad.
Which exotic fruit will you take to your tropical paradise island?
Rebecca is a personal trainer and health & wellness coach who is passionate about helping women to feel healthy, happy and LOVE life. As a coach with a huge passion for vegan nutrition, holistic health, enjoying exercise and self care, Rebecca is on a mission to help women thrive!
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