There are some foods that always bring back summer-time memories from when I was a kid. One of these are red raspberries. I grew up down the road from my grandparents, who had a massive raspberry patch. These grandparents were known in the neighborhood as the ones with “that patch.”
To put it into perspective, this raspberry patch, cared for by my grandfather, and later by my uncle, was large enough to sustain my family, plus my dad’s four other siblings and their families all summer long.
When the berries were on, I would either ride my bike, or my horse down to the patch and pick until it got too hot. Then I’d load the berry bowls (typically old ice cream buckets I could tie to my saddle) and make my way back home with my haul.
Then came the best part. Eating them on EVERYTHING. Pancakes, oatmeal, desserts, smoothies, or simply pop a few in your mouth as a midday snack.
Now as an adult, I appreciate how much work goes into caring for a raspberry patch to feed the neighborhood, but the reward remains the same. Fresh, sweet berries I can put on anything. And here are some reasons why you might want to start adding more berries into your diet as well.
High in Fiber
First, raspberries are an excellent source of fiber. All those seeds that get stuck in your teeth do more for you than you realize. They help aid in your body’s digestion process, and keep you feeling full long after you’ve eaten them (unless they were part of a dessert. Then you might end up eating more than you planned).
Great Source for Vitamin C
When those summer colds hit, don’t grab the orange juice to get your dose of vitamin C. Raspberries have high levels of this immune booster and are less likely to spike your blood sugar levels. Vitamin C is also great for healthy skin.
Slows Down Aging
Raspberries are high in antioxidants which can reduce free-radicals in your body. These antioxidants have also been linked to longer lifespans and anti-aging effects because of UV damage and other causes.
These are just a few of the reasons as to why you should eat raspberries, apart from the fact that fresh of the plant, there are very few things I’d rather eat. For more information on the health benefits of eating this amazing little fruit, check out this article by Healthline.
And when you get done with that, book your spot to get your weekly dose of goodness through our 2 Good seasonal subscription boxes, or come make your own memories and pick with your family in our patch by scheduling an appointment.
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