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Keep the family healthy this winter with pineapples

Leading Australian nutritionist Dr Joanna McMillan, calls for Australian families to adopt a healthy lifestyle throughout the winter months by enjoying the sweet taste of pineapples, more often.

Dr Joanna has partnered with Australian Pineapples, the industry body that supports local growers, for a third year to highlight the nutritional benefits of pineapples and why it is important to keep healthy during cooler months.

“When it’s cold we often crave more energy-dense comfort foods that are not the best for our health, and our intake of fresh fruit falls. But we just need to use fruit differently in winter and pineapples are a terrific choice. They are available all year round and since they are extremely adaptable in both sweet and savoury dishes, they make the perfect addition to hot winter dishes. You can warm up the whole family with my nutritious recipes, such as Pineapple Coconut Crumble and Slow Cooked Pork and Pineapple,” Dr Joanna explains.

Dr Joanna reiterates the numerous health benefits of this sweet fruit.

“Pineapples are rich in vitamin C, which is essential for healthy skin and a strong immune system. They also help support a balanced diet with thiamin, niacin, manganese and plenty of fibre,” says Dr Joanna.

Dr Joanna has created four new recipes to showcase pineapple as a nutritional ingredient that can be enjoyed by the whole family:

• Slow Cooked Pork & Pineapple
• Pineapple Coconut Crumble
• Sweet & Sour Pineapple Chicken
• Pineapple Zucchini Bread

“For busy families, weekdays can be hectic and overwhelming and that is why I have developed this quick and easy mid-week recipe of Sweet and Sour Pineapple Chicken. Parents are always asking me about healthy kids’ lunch box ideas, so I’m sharing my recipe for Pineapple Zucchini Bread,” Dr Joanna claims.

Dr Joanna advises that the best way to store pineapple is in an air-tight container in the fridge. This way, she claims, you will always have fresh pineapple on hand, ready for the whole family to enjoy.

Australian Pineapples grower, Chris Fullerton, debunks myths about selecting fresh pineapple.

“It is surprising how many misconceptions there are about selecting pineapples. The colour can naturally vary between summer and winter but I can assure you that if a pineapple is in store and on the shelf, it is ready to eat. There are a lot of topless pineapples in stores, however if it does have leaves, they should look fresh and green and the fruit shouldn’t have any blemishes or bruises,” Fullerton clarifies.

Fullerton states that slicing a pineapple is easy when you follow these simple steps:

1. Select a large sharp knife and always cut away from your body.
2. Chop off the crown and base, then slice down around the edges to remove the skin.
3. Cut pineapple lengthways in half and then into quarters.
4. Remove the core cutting from top to base (or leave it if you prefer your pineapple crunchy).
5. Slice quarters into bite size pieces.

More information on pineapples is available at http://aussiepineapples.com/ and www.facebook.com/australianpineapples

-ENDS-

For further information, recipes or images or to interview Dr Joanna McMillan or a pineapples grower please contact:

Kasey Simpson/Philippa Naylor

IMPACT Communications Australia

02 9519 5411

Kasey@impactcommunications.com.au

philippa@impactcommunications.com.au

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