Week 2

Eat at least one piece of fresh fruit each day.

I hope this is pretty easy for everyone.  Fruit is sweet and delicious and we have so many options. Always eat fruit first if with a meal or on an empty stomach.  If you start your day with a glass of water (week 1 challenge), and follow that with a fresh piece of fruit, you will have started your day well.  Fruit is very easy to digest and very cleansing. Fruit is a natural detoxifier and will help you eliminate toxins from your body rather than store them in your cells.  In fact, fasting on just fresh fruit until noon is a great way in the spring to do a gentle cleanse.  On a daily basis though, starting your day with a glass of water followed by some fresh fruit is as excellent way to regularly flush toxins from your system. 

When you buy your fruit, look for the fruit that is on the end cap in the store or is on special.  Also look to see where the fruit comes from - local produce when available is typically the best.  Just think how delicious a fresh peach just taken off the tree or a ripe strawberry from the vine tastes.  Think of fresh fruit as God's candy!  Buy good quality produce, the best you can find, and enjoy this wonderful treat from God that is easy to prepare and eat.  Ripe, raw fresh fruit is packed with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, anti-oxidants, and other powerful nutrients.

The tray above shows what I have on hand in my house today.  I think the biggest problem is consciously remembering when at the store to buy enough fresh fruit and then remembering to eat it once you get it home.  Speak victory (read the victory post and be encouraged) with this challenge and praise God for the many delicious fresh fruits He has given us!

A few things to think about when enjoying your fruit this week:

 

1.  Following the 'break fast' advice, eat your fruit 15 to 30 minutes after you have had your glass of water in the morning.

 

 

2.  Eat fresh fruits (and vegetables) that are in season.  Thus your daily fresh produce selection with vary throughout the year.  (The raspberry photo above is from my garden in June.  Fresh picked raspberries off the bush are extremely delicious.  Raspberries are not in season right now, but what wonderful mouthwatering memories this photo holds for me.)  Though you may be wondering what is in season, it is easy to learn and it won't take you long to become an expert.  Read the 'in season' post for more information on this.  Right now, oranges, grapefruit, pears, and kiwis are some of the fruits currently in season.  Apples and bananas are also available.  If you are diabetic, pick a fiber rich fruit, one that has edible skin or edible seeds such as a pear, apple or kiwi.

 

3.  Buy organic when you can, especially for the most contaminated fruits and vegetables.  Each year a list of the worst and the best fruits and vegetables is compiled. Testing is done on a number of samples to see which produce items contain the most and which contain the least pesticide residue.  If you can't afford or find organic, try to choose those produce items that are least contaminated.

 

4.  Learn to eat your fruit (whether first thing in the morning or later in the day) before other foods on an empty stomach for best digestion.

 

Advanced Challenge for those already eating a fresh piece of fruit after their water in the morning:

 

Have a second piece of fresh fruit for an afternoon snack.

 

If you are just beginning the weekly challenges, please be sure to read the posts under Weekly Challenge - In Advance.

 

"When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs." Numbers 13:23