What fruit do you eat right now?

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 01-27-2008, 06:11 PM

I have 4 kids and I try to have 1 fruit a day at least for them, I prefer 2. My dh takes a piece of fruit each day for lunch. We prefer fresh, I only have a limited number of frozen that we picked ourselves and froze last summer and then there is canned, which isn't the greatest for you. Fresh fruit options are few and far between right now - at least what I can afford. It takes 2 apples between the kids, then 1 for dh. So 3 apples a day, at $1.79 a pound adds up. They won't eat bananas, which are cheaper. Oranges, the sales are hit and miss here.

ny ideas? What kind of fresh fruit do y'all eat in the winter? Or do you switch to canned, dried or frozen? I am not liking this time of year to feed my family. What is in the store is mostly imported and probably really high in pesticides. Organic apples were $4.99 a pound today! No way can we afford that.

**joyofsix** · 01-27-2008, 06:19 PM

Hmm, my problem is the kids love everything. We eat apples, bananas and oranges all from Aldi. I buy grapes when there is a sale. Kiwis too. I don't feel bad about fruit canned in it's own juice. I use peaches, pears, fruit cocktail and applesauce. Once in awhile I'll splurge on frozen berries, again from Aldi.

**Mom23boys** · 01-27-2008, 06:20 PM

I have been buying apples and bananas for us to eat. I would love some grapes, but they haven't been on sale.

**Nantahala** · 01-27-2008, 06:28 PM

Fresh apples and bananas, frozen peaches, mango and strawberries.

**shoiji** · 01-27-2008, 06:40 PM

fresh apples, bananas, mango, oranges. Frozen mixed fruit, strawberries, and peaches. Canned manderin oranges, pineapple, peaches. Normally I want fresh fruit but being winter and prices I make due the best I can. I do use dates and raisins also.

**Domestic Gal** · 01-27-2008, 06:42 PM

I always have bananas and apples in the house at all times.
Right now I have bananas, apples and oranges. Just cleaned and used the last pomegante that I had today.
I try to have at least 3 different kinds of fresh fruit as the kids take 1 fruit a day in there lunches and my husband will take 3 or more fresh fruits in his lunch.
I sometimes will have up to 5 different kinds of fresh fruit in the house. I will skimp on buying meat if I have to, to buy fresh fruit.

**IntlMom** · 01-27-2008, 06:42 PM

bananas really are the most affordable.
kiwis are a good option this time of year
canned fruit in juice is better than nothing this time of year

**lwlynch** · 01-27-2008, 06:45 PM

I usually lately only buy the apples. I add carmel dip, peanut butter. I have 2 apple trees which should be producing fruit this year. I am looking into getting a peach tree and a pear tree. I would like to get where I don't have to buy any. I also buy the frozen berries (mix). and the other frozen fruits and make smoothies.

**amykhar** · 01-27-2008, 06:59 PM

Clementines are the kids favorites. I also get grapes and bananas. Given that your kids don't like bananas, how about using frozen fruits that they do like in smoothies?

Canned fruit is much cheaper, and I stock up on that when it's on sale.

I also have a food dehydrator and dry some fruits in the summer. I need to do more of that.

I have also found that if I go to the farmer's market a bit later on Saturday, one stall really pushes a few fruits like strawberries and blueberries, and they reduce the price.

Amy

**emily_hope** · 01-27-2008, 07:04 PM

We eat apples and banana mostly. Our grocery has had oranges, grapes and grapefruits on sale. We do eat canned fruits in 100% juice. I had started a thread that listed the best time to buy certain fruits and vegetables. It is here: [ame="http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93652"]Cheapest Fruits and Vegetables[/ame] Maybe that will help you a little.

**anna021** · 01-27-2008, 07:05 PM

oranges, bananas, apples are here every week, I go by what's on sale and what's in season, as I'm sure most of us do. But as a little tip for this week, shoprite has golden pineapple for 1.49 (limit 1) and hannafords has 2 pints of blueberries for $5.00, I'm splurging on the berries this week, can't wait!

**brennasmom** · 01-27-2008, 07:07 PM

Bananas, apples, pears, mangos, frozen blueberries.

**Ceashels** · 01-27-2008, 07:34 PM

Apples and bananas are a mainstay for DH and I. I also do mandarin orange slices, pinapple in its own juice and dehydrated apricots. If grapes or strawberries are at a decent price for good quality after shipping, I try to get them maybe once a month (but sadly, that doesn't happen too often). I did get the chance to dehydrate some cherries when they were in season last year and will let them rehydrate in the pinapple juice and make a fruit salad when company comes.

**redhead68** · 01-27-2008, 07:40 PM

Another vote for clementines! My kids love them, and they're plentiful at this time of year. I also buy discounted over-ripe bananas, peel them, and toss them in the freezer for smoothies made with other frozen fruits like blueberries, strawberries, etc.

**annymoll** · 01-27-2008, 07:55 PM

I have peach, pear and cherry trees, my neighbor has apples. We canned, froze and dehydrated these. I froze strawberries from our patch, and wild blackberries. I have an overabundance of both. I have frozen and dehydrated blueberries that my neighbor grew, I helped her put them up and she gave me a share.( I have one chest freezer solely for home grown fruits and veggies.)I buy fresh apples, oranges, green , red , and purple grapes( I watch for whichever is priced the cheapest that week)I use raisins, dried or fresh cranberries. I reduce meat consumption, limit bakery goods instead of bypassing fruit and veggies.I shoot for 9-11 servings of fruit and vegetables for both of us daily.