CHI Healthy Spirit Harvest of the Month: Peaches

Peaches2We are thrilled that our Harvest of the Month wellness initiative has been so successful the past few months! Now that it is August and summer is in full swing, many fruits and vegetables have been “in season” for some time. As you know with this program, it is our goal to encourage our friends, family, colleagues & patients to consume healthy foods and to support local products when they are made available. With that in mind, Peaches are the the Harvest of the Month for August.

Nutrition Information (1 small peach or ½ cup)

  • Calories: 30 Vitamin C: 10%
  • Total Fat: 0g Vitamin A: 5%
  • Total Carbohydrate: 7g Magnesium: 3%
  • Fiber: 1g Iron: 2%
  • Protein: 1g

Health Benefits

Peaches are a vitamin-rich fruit that have numerous health benefits. There has been some recent research that has shown that peaches, along with other stone fruits, may help with improved insulin levels and better glycemic control. In addition, peaches contain fiber and potassium which are both good for your overall heart health.

Fun Facts

Provided by Saint Joseph London Clinical Dietitians Melinda Hinkle, Emily Tuggle and Rachel Thomas:

  • The first peaches were planted in Georgia in the 18 th century and the first commercial production of peaches
  • Fresh Georgia peaches are available only 16 weeks each year, from mid-May through August
  • Peach juice makes a wonderful moisturizer and it can be found in many brands of cosmetics
  • The term “You’re a real peach” originated from the tradition of giving a peach to a friend that you liked

Storage and Preparation Recommendations

  • To ripen peaches, you can place them in a paper bag and store them at room temperature.
  • Check them each day until they have softened and are good to eat.
  • Be sure to wash peaches under cold water and remove any visible dirt.
  • For ripe peaches, store them in the cooler for up to 4-5 days.
  • If using fresh peaches in a recipe, feel free to add a little lemon juice to the peaches to help avoid them from turning brown.

Kids Cooking Clues

Kids will enjoy peaches added to yogurt or mixed into pancake or waffle batter. Peaches are also a tasty addition to oatmeal or breakfast muffins. Children will also like peaches mixed with low-fat ice cream, skim milk and other fruits to make a delicious milkshake. occurred in the mid-19th century