Eating well & staying fit – achieving the right balance!
Eating well & staying fit – achieving the right balance! Posted July 20th, 2018 by Fruidel Team Eating the Right Foods for Exercise Eating a well-balanced diet can help you get the calories and nutrients you need to fuel your daily activities. When it comes to eating foods to fuel your exercise performance, it’s not as simple as choosing vegetables over doughnuts. You need to get the right types of food at the right times of the day. Learn about the importance of healthy breakfasts, workout snacks, and meal plans. Start the morning with a healthy breakfast Your first meal of the day is an important one and eating breakfast regularly has been linked to a lower risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Starting your day with a healthy meal can help replenish your blood sugar, which your body needs to power your muscles and brain. Eating a healthy breakfast is especially important on days when exercise is on your agenda. Skipping breakfast can leave you feeling lightheaded or lethargic while you’re working out Increase your fruit and vegetable intake Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of natural fibre, vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that your body needs to function especially when doing regular exercise. They’re also low in calories and fat. Aim to fill half your plate with fruits and veggies at every meal and try to “eat the rainbow” by choosing fruits and veggies of different colours. This will help you enjoy the full range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that the produce aisle has to offer. Every time you go to the grocery store, considering choosing a new fruit or vegetable to try. For snacks, keep dried fruits in your workout bag and raw veggies in the fridge. Eating fruit during the working day Boosting your daily fruit intake will give you right fuel to get through the working day and have enough energy to go to the gym in the evening. Click here to see the fruit basket options we provide Back to blog
Benefits Of Pear Fruit And Its Nutritional Value
Benefits Of Pear Fruit And Its Nutritional Value Posted July 16th, 2018 by Fruidel Team Top 10 interesting facts about the pear There are over 3000 varieties of pears grown around the world. Pears are native to Asia and Europe. The first pear tree was planted in the North America in 1620 in the Massachusetts Bay colony. The European pear originated in Southeast Asia and was first cultivated in Europe about 1000 B.C. Asian pears were cultivated in China as early as 1134 B.C. The Chinese considered the pear, which they call “li,” to be a symbol of immortality. The destruction of a pear tree symbolized tragic or untimely death. In Chinese, fen li means both “to share a pear” and “to separate”. Therefore, it is considered bad luck in China to share a pear because it may lead to separation of friends or lovers. Before tobacco was introduced in Europe, pear leaves were smoked. The pear was sacred to two goddesses in Greek mythology – Hera and Aphrodite. It was also sacred to the corresponding Roman goddesses, Juno and Venus, as well as to Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruitfulness. They were given the nickname “butter fruit” in the 1700s because of their soft, buttery texture. Pears were used as a natural remedy against nausea in ancient Greece. Pear wood is used to make furniture, musical instruments and wood carvings. It is also used to make wooden kitchen utensils because it doesn’t impart any colour or odour to the food and because it is tough enough to withstand repeated trips through the dishwasher without splintering or warping. Architect’s rulers are made from pear wood because it doesn’t warp. Benefits Of Pear Fruit And Its Nutritional Value The humble fruit is packed with tons of health benefits. Some of the most popular pear health benefits include: Mental Health: A medium-sized pear provides about 15 percent of our daily recommended copper requirement. Copper is an essential mineral required for a healthy central nervous system. The copper ions affect the component that is responsible for making the neural synapses stronger or weaker. This change affects our ability to learn and remember. The antioxidant, quercetin, found in pears also protects us from Alzheimer’s disease. Heart health: Pears are a good source of glutathione, an antioxidant, which controls high blood pressure and reduces the risk of strokes. It contains potassium, a mineral, which maintains the health of the heart. Quercetin also prevents artery damage that can cause heart disease. The high levels of pectin in pears lower cholesterol in the body. Fiber: Pear is one of the best fiber-rich foods. A medium-sized pear provides up to 30 grams of fiber, including pectin, which helps in toning the intestines and lowering the cholesterol levels. A high fiber diet prevents a bloated belly caused by constipation, while preventing painful hemorrhoids. Fiber also helps to absorb vitamins and minerals from the food. Bone Health: Pears contain boron, a mineral which aids the body to retain calcium. The fruit may, therefore, help in preventing osteoporosis. Nutritional Value of Pears Nutritive value per 100 g (USDA) Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA Energy 58 Kcal 3% Carbohydrates 13.81 g 11% Protein 0.38 g <1% Total Fat 0.12 g 0.5% Cholesterol 0 mg 0% Dietary Fiber 3.10 g 8% Vitamins Folates 7 µg 2% Niacin 0.157 mg 1% Pantothenic acid 0.048 mg 1% Pyridoxine 0.028 mg 2% Riboflavin 0.025 mg 2% Thiamin 0.012 mg 1% Vitamin A 23 IU 1% Vitamin C 4.2 mg 7% Vitamin E 0.12 mg 1% Vitamin K 4.5 µg 4% Electrolytes Sodium 1 mg 0% Potassium 119 mg 2.5% Minerals Calcium 9 mg 1% Copper 0.082 mg 9% Iron 0.17 mg 2% Magnesium 7 mg 2% Manganese 2% Phosphorus 11 mg 2% Zinc 0.10 mg 1% Phyto-nutrients Carotene-ß 12 µg — Crypto-xanthin-ß 2 µg — Lutein-zeaxanthin 45 µg — Pears are a good source of Vitamin B2, C and E. It contains minerals like copper, iron, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and chlorine in small quantities. It is also a good source of pectin, a water-soluble fiber. Pear also contains all three groups of flavonoids – flavonols, flavan-3 and anthocyanin in huge amounts. Back to blog
Benefits of fruit in the workplace
Benefits of fruit in the workplace | Fruidel: Office Fruit & Milk Delivery UK Wide Posted July 4th, 2018 by Fruidel Team The cost-effective way to reduce absenteeism The phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” has never resonated more when considering the staggering cost of absenteeism to businesses in the UK. Whether its a small start up or large scale corporation the ‘people’ are always at the heart, so keeping staff happy and motivated is crucial to reducing sick days resulting in better efficiently throughout. According to research by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, absenteeism is costing British companies more than £29 billion a year. Promoting healthy living in the workplace is a win-win measure for both employer and employee. It is a relatively inexpensive way to maintain good staff morale while driving down the number of sick days. Increase productivity in the office Do you notice employees slumped at their desks in the afternoon, hours after their morning coffee? They probably need some fresh fuel in the form of healthy fruit snacks even (and especially) those who scarfed down double cheeseburgers for lunch. A huge percent of office workers snack every day, but 60 percent of them wish they had healthier options available. So why not provide colleagues with fresh fruit? – Stock the office with fresh fruit and healthy treats appealing to a variety of cravings while providing a great source of energy to help people beat that afternoon energy slump keeping highly productive all day. What Fruidel offers to boost productivity in the office Do your employees prefer choice? – Fruidel can tailor your order delivering your bespoke corporate fruit basket direct to your office floor on time. Providing the perfect member benefit for all your employees. Click here to select your fruit basket option Back to blog
Reducing Fruit Waste | The Eco-friendly Solution
Office Fruit Delivery – The Eco-friendly Solution – Reducing Fruit Waste Posted June 28th, 2018 by Fruidel Team UK food waste – the figures In the UK people are throwing away £13bn of food each year, latest figures show. Waste and recycling advisory body says 4.4m tonnes of household food waste thrown away in 2015 could have been eaten. Of the food thrown away, 4.4m tonnes was deemed to be “avoidable” waste that was edible at some point before it was put in the bin, compared with 4.2m tonnes in 2012. The rest were scraps that could not be eaten such as meat bones, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds, apple cores and fruit and vegetable peelings. Reducing food waste and the cost of the weekly shop People are becoming more conscious of food waste and many families are working towards a better approach to food consumption within the household. The average UK family weekly shop comes in at £53.20 and since 2009 the average food waste per person is 12%, but despite this improvement specialists think there is much more we can do. Some families choose to plan meals for the week so you don’t ever buy anything that your don’t eat. This has proven a great way of reducing food waste the cost of the weekly shop. Fruit waste – could supermarkets do more? Fruit and vegetable waste from farms ‘could feed population of Birmingham or Manchester for a year’, says environmental charity. Report suggests supermarkets play key role in driving overproduction and food waste. Fruit and vegetable farmers responding to a feedback survey reported they wasted up to 37,000 tonnes of produce every year – around 16 per cent of their crop. This quantity would be enough to provide 250,000 people with their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day for a year. Sainsbury’s is one supermarket who have recognised their part in driving food waste on the farms in their supply chain – and work with their suppliers to reduce this waste. Sainsbury’s has been conducting a pilot study involving an entire town of Swadlincote in Derbyshire, where it regularly checks householders’ bins while trialling new technology such as smart fridges and food-sharing apps to monitor and help reduce waste in the future. This experiment is a great plan to tackle food waste and government officials are keen for other leading industry companies to follow the lead. Fruidel – helping the community and reducing waste Fruidel recycle 90% of all fruit waste with everything going to food bank charity organisations, for those in need of a little help Fruidel Eco-friendly Solutions Low emissions on all vans with AdBlue – We use AdBlue which is fed into the exhaust of all our vans, reacting with the nitrogen oxide gas produced by the combustion process, breaking it down into harmless nitrogen and oxygen. We are aware that emission levels in cities throughout the UK are at dangerous levels in certain areas. We are doing everything possible to keep green and lower C02 emissions. Bio-degradable – Fruidel ensure that all brown paper and plastic bags are bio-degradable. The environmental impact of cheap plastics is the damaging planet with 500 times more pieces of micro-plastic in the sea than there are stars in our galaxy and by 2050 it is estimated there will be more plastic than fish. Fruidel are joining the fight against this catastrophic environmental issue by being proactive in all areas of the business to keep green and save the planet. Back to blog
Fruity Fact – Oranges were known as the fruits of the Gods
Fruity Fact – Oranges were known as the fruits of the Gods Posted June 19th, 2018 by Fruidel Team Interesting facts about oranges Did you know? There are more than 600 varieties of oranges, falling into two main types: one sweet, the other bitter. Predictably, the sweet is more popular. Sweet and bitter oranges come from two different species. Sweet varieties include the Valencia, navel and blood orange. Here are some of the other most popular varieties: ValenciaHamlinPineapple OrangesTemple OrangesWashington NavelRed Cara NavelBlood OrangesAmber sweetMoro OrangeSeville OrangeJaffaPersian VarietyParson Brown Oranges were known as the fruits of the Gods. They were often referred as the ‘golden apples’ that Hercules stole. Orange is a type of berry (hesperidia to be exact). Orange trees are evergreens, seldom exceeding 9 m (30 ft) in height. An orange tree can grow to reach 30 feet and live for over a hundred years. Christopher Columbus brought the first orange to America in 1493. Brazil is the largest producer of oranges in the world. Oranges have been grown since ancient times and originated in Southeast Asia. Orange peel can be used by gardeners to sprinkle over vegetables as a slug repellent. Nutritional benefits of oranges Oranges are well known for their vitamin C content which is a powerful antioxidant, helping protect our cells from damage. Just one medium orange will provide the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of vitamin C for adults. Just one orange counts towards one of your five-a-day. One 150ml glass of unsweetened orange juice also counts as one portion, although the NHS advises that orange juice can still only count once per day, no matter how much you drink. Orange peel actually contains higher amounts of certain nutrients than the fleshSo using recipes that incorporate the zest of an orange will give your diet an extra boost. Oranges lower cholesterolSince they’re full of soluble fibre, oranges are helpful in lowering cholesterol. They are rich in potassium and boost heart healthOranges are full of potassium, an electrolyte mineral responsible for helping the heart function well. When potassium levels get too low, you may develop an abnormal heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia. They relieve constipationOranges are full of dietary fibre, which stimulates digestive juices and relieves constipation. They regulate high blood pressureThe flavonoid hesperidin found in oranges helps regulate high blood pressure, and the magnesium in oranges helps maintain blood pressure. They protect skinOranges are full of beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant that protects the cells from damage. Beta-carotene protects the skin from free radicals and helps prevent the signs of aging. The orange – Fruidel’s popular choice A great fruit to include as one of your 5 A Day and is included in every fruit basket as a source of fibre and vitamin C Click here to see the fruit basket options Back to blog
Fruity Fact – Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen each spring…
Fruity Fact – Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen each spring… Posted June 12th, 2018 by Fruidel Team 10 Interesting Facts All Strawberry Lovers Should Know.. 1. Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen each spring – This year a Welsh fruit grower has broken the record for picking the earliest ever British strawberries grown in glasshouses. They went on sale in supermarkets on the 26 February. 2. Strawberries are the only fruit that wear their seeds on the outside The average berry is adorned with some 200 of them. No wonder it only takes one bite to get seeds stuck in your teeth. 3. Despite their name, strawberries aren’t technically berries – they’re accessory fruits – While we’re getting technical—berries should have seeds inside. Strawberries are really in a group of their own since they don’t come from a single ovary. 4. The seeds can grow into new strawberry plants, but most instead reproduce through runners 5. Strawberries are members of the rose family – Should you come upon a bush of them growing, you’ll see: they smell as sweet as they taste. 6. The ancient Romans thought strawberries had medicinal powers – They used them to treat everything from depression to fainting to fever, kidney stones, bad breath and sore throats. 7. Stop and smell the strawberries! Considered members of the rose family, they give off a sweet fragrance as they grow on bushes. 8. Considered a perennial, strawberry plants will grow back year after year – Although they don’t always grow fruit immediately, once they do, the plants can last up to 5 years. 9. To store fresh strawberries, wash them and cut the stem away – However, if you plan to keep them in the fridge for a few days, wait until before you eat them to clean them. Rinsing them speeds up spoiling. 10. Strawberries can also be pickled – Especially when picked green or unripe. If your berries are overripe, make jam! Nutritional Benefits of the Strawberry The heart-shaped silhouette of the strawberry is the first clue that this fruit is good for you. The strawberry has become one of the national fruits of choice with sales peaking during Wimbledon where everyone enjoys the classic strawberries and cream. Not just a delicious fruit.. strawberries are packed with vitamins, fibre, and particularly high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols, strawberries are a sodium-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free, low-calorie food. They are among the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity and are a good source of manganese and potassium. Just one serving – about eight strawberries – provides more vitamin C than an orange. Back to blog
Fruidel – UK’s premier office fruit company
Fruidel – UK’s premier office fruit company Posted June 5th, 2018 by Fruidel Team Delivering fresh fruit and milk nationwide direct to your office floor Do your employees prefer choice?Fruidel is now offering a bespoke corporate basket, tailoring your order to give great choice and providing the perfect member benefit for all your employees. Ideal for large companies who require fresh fruit delivery across multiple sites. With Fruidel’s large network of depots throughout the UK we can deliver your bespoke corporate fruit baskets direct to your office floor on time. Click here for a quick quote Back to blog
Apple vs Coffee
Apple vs Coffee | Fruidel: Office Fruit & Milk Delivery UK Wide Posted October 11th, 2016 by Fruidel Team Apples give you more energy than coffee In no way would we ever try to convince the coffee aficionados in our readership to give up their precious morning coffee. We’re not crazy. However, if you’re finding yourself a little low on energy during the afternoon then consider eating an apple in the morning with your coffee. Thanks to its high carbohydrate, vitamin, and mineral content, apples have the perfect storm of nutrition to help you stay energized all day. Back to blog
Fruity and Vegetables
Fruity and Vegetables | Fruidel: Office Fruit & Milk Delivery UK Wide Posted October 11th, 2016 by Fruidel Team About a third of the food you eat should be made up of fruit and vegetables – and you should try to eat at least five portions of fruit and veg every day. It’s important to eat fruit and vegetables because there’s evidence to show that people who eat more than five portions of fruit and veg a day have a lower risk of developing heart disease. Fruit and vegetables also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals which your body needs to keep healthy. They are a good source of fibre which makes them filling to eat and will help keep your digestive system healthy. “The first thing to do is make sure you have breakfast; a good wholegrain cereal or wholegrain toast. And breakfast is a good time to get in one of your five a day, so have a glass of fruit juice or a handful of dried fruit on your cereal,” she says. Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Try to choose a variety of fruit and vegetables over the day so that you can benefit from all the different nutrients they give you. Back to blog
Whats five a day?
Whats five a day? | Fruidel: Office Fruit & Milk Delivery UK Wide Posted October 11th, 2016 by Fruidel Team Fruit and vegetables are part of a balanced diet and can help us stay healthy. That’s why it’s so important we eat enough of them. Evidence shows there are significant health benefits to getting at least five 80g portions of fruit and vegetables every day. That’s five portions of fruit and veg in total, not five portions of each. The 5 A DAY campaign is based on advice from the World Health Organization, which recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Five reasons to eat five portions of fruit and veg The term calorie is a commonly used shorthand for ‘kilocalorie’. On food packets you will find this written as kcal. Kilojoules (kJ) are the metric measurement of calories, and you’ll see both kJ and kcal on nutrition labels – 4.2kJ is equivalent to approximately 1kcal. Energy throughout the day Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium. They’re an excellent source of dietary fibre, which helps to maintain a healthy gut and prevent constipation and other digestion problems. A diet high in fibre can also reduce your risk of bowel cancer. They can help to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthy, balanced diet. Fruit and vegetables taste delicious and there’s so much variety to choose from. Fruit and vegetables are also usually low in fat and calories (provided you don’t fry them or roast them in lots of oil). That’s why eating them can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy. To get the most out of your 5 A DAY, your five portions should include a variety of fruit and vegetables. This is because different fruits and vegetables contain different combinations of fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Almost all fruit and vegetables count towards your 5 A DAY. They can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or pure juices. Potatoes and cassava don’t count, because they mainly contribute starch to the diet. How to get your 5 a day? – To learn more about what counts towards your 5 A DAY, go to 5 A DAY: what counts? and 5 A DAY: portion sizes. – For inspiration on fitting 5 A DAY into your breakfast, lunch and dinner, go to 5 A DAY tips. – For ways to get cheaper fruit and veg, visit 5 A DAY on a budget. – Fussy eaters to feed? Get help from 5 A DAY and your family. – Green-fingered chefs might be interested in tips for growing your own fruit and vegetables. The office fruit company – provide you with the most cost effective staff benefit while increasing staff productivity and promoting a happy healthy office. Delivering fresh fruit baskets to your workplace twice a week or daily Back to blog