Spring is a great time to enjoy fresh fruit, and many seasonal options work well in a diabetes‑friendly eating plan. As the weather warms up, these fruits bring natural sweetness, bright flavor, and helpful nutrients like fiber and vitamins. Here are six tasty spring fruits that add color to your quality carb section of the Diabetes Plate.
Our Five Springtime Picks
Try these six springtime picks in recipes or simply as-is to keep your body healthy and taste buds delighted.
Strawberries
Strawberries dazzle with their vivid red color, sweet juiciness, and burst of flavonoids and antioxidants.
- Whirl up a refreshing strawberry-banana “nice cream”.
- Toss strawberries onto leafy salads for contrast.
- Grill strawberry halves for a dessert with sweet-smoky goodness.
Apricots
Apricots are sweet, soft fruits that provide helpful vitamins and fiber. They add bright flavor and simple nutrition to snacks and meals.
- Prepare a flavorful salad with quinoa, arugula, and apricots.
- Try a traditional Moroccan Meal that uses apricots with chicken.
Mangos
Tropical mangos feature more than 20 vitamins and minerals. They may help boost satiety (feeling full), which can be beneficial for managing weight.
- Make a mango relish for halibut, or Strawberry Mango Salsa for grilled fish.
- Pair mango with black beans in Mexican dishes.
- Blend a refreshing lassi (it’s like an Indian smoothie) featuring mango and plain Greek yogurt.
Golden Kiwifruit
Golden kiwifruit are sweet, bright, and full of vitamin C and fiber. Their smooth, edible skin adds extra nutrients, and they can be used just like green kiwis.
- Create a Fruit and Cheese Kabab using mozzarella cheese cubes, golden kiwi, strawberries and grapes.
- Upgrade your PB&J swapping golden kiwi in place of jam.
- Cool off with Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops which are creamy treats made with yogurt and blended fruit. They’re lightly sweet, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day.
Mandarin Oranges
There are numerous types of mandarins, including clementines. They’re like petite easy-to-peel oranges packing a punch of vitamin C. Citrus polyphenols may play a protective role over time for people with type 2 diabetes. Use two mandarin oranges in recipes calling for one navel orange.
- Stash one into your purse or backpack for an anytime snack.
- Toss mandarin segments into a peppery green salad or spicy stir fry for sweet balance and color.
- Top cooked chicken with a pineapple mandarin orange salsa.
Fruit availability varies by region and season. When fresh fruit is unavailable, choose unsweetened frozen or canned fruit to still enjoy its benefits and taste. Sign up for the Diabetes Food Hub e-newsletter for more recipes ideas on how to include fruit in your diabetes-friendly eating plan.
