Stick a Lot of Fruitiness and Fun in the Summer!

Summer is in full blast and the best way to enjoy this sunshiny season is to splurge on healthy delicious summer fruits!

Let summer’s amazing stars— strawberries, kiwis, pineapples and mangoes—take the spotlight with gorgeous and surprisingly simple fruit desserts and snacks via my Meatless Monday treat, the Minty Fruit Kebabs! This luscious fruity recipe is made with the tantalizing taste of sweet summer fruits packed with all the nutritional benefits to give us the energy and power to last a hot day.

Strawberries are my favorite! It’s power to the Vitamin C when we talk about strawberries. One cup of fresh strawberries contains 160% of your daily needs for vitamin C, for only 50 calories. Additionally, strawberries are rich in the essential nutrients, potassium, folic acid and fiber.

Speaking of Vitamin C, pineapples are also a good source of it. Plus, they contain manganese and Vitamin B1 for energy production and anti-oxidant defenses.

Kiwis are superb when it comes to maintaining a healthy skin tone and texture. The fiber and potassium in kiwis support heart health.

Mangoes are said to be the most widely consumed fruit in the world! No doubt about that, because mangoes are beneficial and helpful in decreasing the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Aside from the fact that mangoes can give us full energy for the day, they also promote a healthy complexion and give us oh-so silky hair.

Let’s hear it for this wonderful juicy-licious summer treat!

Minty Fruit Kebabs

Ingredients:
8 strawberries cut into halves (lengthwise)
1 cup pineapple, cut into bite-size pieces
2 kiwi fruit, cut into bite-size pieces
½ cup mango, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 tablespoon chia seeds
4 springs fresh mint, stems removed

Instructions:
1. Stick the fruits in a short bamboo skewers, alternating to create an attractive pattern. Place skewers on a large plate.
2. Whisk the maple syrup in a small bowl together with the ground cardamom and chia seeds very well.
3. Stack mint leaves and cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-wide strips. Fluff to separate.
4. Just before serving, brush maple syrup mixture over both sides of the fruit kebabs. Sprinkle mint strips over both sides and serve at once.

Questions: Aside from the ingredients listed above, do you have something in mind that can add more flavor to this creation? What are your summer recipe plans? Do you have any requests for future Meatless Monday recipes?

Did this recipe speak to your palate? Take a look at my recipe page!

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