March is National Nutrition Month! “Celebrate a World of Flavors” is the theme for National Nutrition Month this year. Eating healthy food is often associated with bitter, bland, flavorless meals, but that just isn’t true. This year’s theme is about making healthy, flavorful food and celebrating cultural foods from around the world.  

3 Flavorful Fruits to Try 

If you are looking to expand your pallet, start by trying some new fruits! These fun fruits can be found in grocery stores, you just may not have known what they were. Here’s a list of some exotic fruits to try this month: 

1. Jackfruit

Though “fruit” is in the name, this unique food is more commonly used as a meat substitute. Grown in southeast Asia, this massive fruit (can grow up to 80 pounds!) tastes sweet when uncooked but shreds like pork or chicken when cooked and can take on a variety of flavors. Jackfruit also contains loads of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C, pyridoxine, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. 

2. Dragon Fruit

Similar in texture to the kiwi, this fruit is fascinating inside and out. With bright colors on the outside and dotted with edible seeds on the inside, this nutrient packed fruit is a great addition to smoothie bowls and other sweet treats. This fruit contains beneficial vitamins and minerals including plant pigments lycopene and carotenoids, Magnesium, Iron, and Vitamin C. Dragon fruit is grown in Latin America and some parts of Asia. 

3. Passion Fruit

This tiny fruit should not be underestimated. Once you get past its thick skin, the tart and juicy seeds are packed with health benefits. Passion fruit contains antioxidants, carotenoids, polyphenols, fiber, vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron, and Potassium. Passion fruit is native to South America but can now be found growing throughout the world.  

References 

https://everintransit.com/exotic-fruits/ 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-jackfruit-and-is-it-healthy/ 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/get-to-know-the-incredible-edible-dragon-fruit/ 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/passion-fruit#what-it-is 

BASE10 strives to deliver transformational healthcare outcomes via its turnkey disease management platform, while simultaneously creating cost savings strategies and ROI to payors.  Learn more at base10genetics.com