Fitness Friday: strawberries

Do you see those beautiful berries? They taste as good as they look.

It is strawberry season here. We live within walking distance of many Amish farms. Over the past two weeks, they have begun hanging out their hand-painted wooden signs announcing: “Strawberries.” Inspired by my reading of Barbara Kingsolver’s food memoir Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, I decided it was time for me to stop buying those gigantic yet bland berries that get shipped to my local grocery store from California.

Last week, I stopped at a farm where we purchased the best watermelons we have ever eaten. I picked up the last two quarts they had for sale. They certainly weren’t out of strawberries because I had interrupted four girls prepping huge silver bowls of them on their porch for their own personal use. I was assured the season was just beginning and that more would be available this week.

I took them home, washed them, and took that picture up above. Sorry, once I began to slice them open, there was no time for photos. The bright red berries demanded to be eaten at once.

Both Peter and Philip have been nibbling on them with and without pound cake. I like to throw them in my cereal or drop them glasses of lemonade and ice water. When I received a last-minute picnic invitation, I used one quart to throw together a spinach salad. It was a hit.

I stopped by the same farm yesterday morning to return the empty green cardboard cartons. I ended up buying three more quarts. I gave two to a couple of coworkers. I’ve basically been proselytizing on the joys of getting your strawberries from local farmers. I’ve now offered to serve as a courier for anyone that needs a strawberry fix.

Strawberries are a great source of fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C. Sure, they taste good because they have sugars but, unlike when I was a kid, I’m not sprinkling any more sugar on top when I eat them. I find they are a great way to get a sweet fix.

Which of your favorite foods are in season where you live?