the cuties have arrived! and other easy ways to get vitamin c.

The Cuties have arrived! At this time of
year, I get out a special bowl and we fill it with these clementines. The boys enjoy these special mandarins as snacks and it’s fun seeing how well they peel them…every year it gets easier.

Citrus not only includes clementines, but also oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, lemons and limes. Our citrus friends are low in calories, fat free and a rich source of Vitamin C. Did you know they also provide a moderate source of Vitamin A, potassium and fiber?

Why is Vitamin C important? We require this vitamin for growth of body tissues (muscle and tendons) and in wound healing. Vitamin C is one of the antioxidants that may assist with decreasing risks of cancer and heart disease. It is still not clear if Vitamin C helps with staying free of illness; however, including citrus foods in your diet for all the other health benefits is a great idea!

How to include citrus in your diet?

• Drink 100% orange juice – 4 oz of 100% orange juice = 1 serving of fruit
• Snack on the Cuties – or throw into a lunch bag.
• Slice oranges and let the kids have fun eating them off the rind (let’s see those orange rind smiles!).
• Add a lemon or lime slice to your drink (clean the rind first). I enjoy a splash of orange juice (pulp, please!) with my Diet 7up.
• Eat half grapefruit in the morning – a great way to start the day (did you know grapefruit spoons exist?)
• Lime juice goes well in salsas and guacamole.
• We provide a gift box of Cuties (with some cookies) to daycare and the grade school during the holidays.

Cranberry Orange Relish (with pecans)

1 -12 oz bag of cranberries, washed

2 orange, peeled and diced

1 tsp of fresh orange zest

Pecans (optional)

Place all ingredients into the food processer. Add ¼ cup sugar and taste and determine if you need more (the actual recipe calls for ½ cup sugar).

Adapted from Ocean Spray Cranberry

Mixed Green Salad with Oranges

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Beets, Chick Peas and Orange

What other ways have you enjoyed adding citrus into your diet?

Please check other citrus recipes I pinned on Dayton Children’s Pinterest.