Today, we are discussing a flavorful and refreshing fruit: the strawberry (la fraise).  In the summer, you can find them in so many desserts — one French favorite is the “fraisier,” a Genoese sponge layer cake with butter cream, flavored with Kirsch, and with fresh strawberries – si bon!  It is one of the (many…) staple cakes available in French pastry shops (pâtisseries).

Strawberry health benefits: Top 3 Reasons to Savor Them

To bake their masterpieces, pâtissiers (pastry cooks) often proudly use strawberries picked close to their bakeries, when possible of course.  In fact, the other day, we saw a sign in a village boulangerie/pâtisserie (bakery/pastry shop) that said the pâtissier regretted to let his customers know that he had to use strawberries from outside the village to make his fraisers.  Now that is determination to use local products isn’t it?

So for special occasions, enjoying strawberries in a fraisier is such a treat but we can hardly mention any strawberry health benefits there!

To ripe strawberry health benefits, simply enjoy them just as they are (much healthier without the butter cream!).  For more details, check below our top 3 reasons to eat fresh strawberries.  Enjoy and bon appétit!

1. Strawberries are extra rich in vitamin C: about 80 mg of Vitamin C  for 1 cup of strawberries, that is most that many fruits.  But keep in mind that after 2 days of storage, your strawberries may have lost most of their vitamin C benefits so as we discussed in our article “Farmers Market Tips: How to Choose Flavorful Strawberries“, it is best to eat them right away.
2. Strawberries are low in calories: strawberries contain a lot of water (about 90%) so they count only 26 calories for 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries!  They are a great nutritious and delicious alternative to other high calorie snacks.  Strawberries are a great partner to keep your weight in check.
3. Strawberries can satisfy your craving for sweets:  strawberries are full of sweetness so they are a healthy alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth.  They make easy and healthy dessert.  In France for example, a bowl of “fraises au sucre” is a summer classic.  Wash and slice a few strawberries, sprinkle them with a tsp of sugar and voilà!  They are also delicious sliced in yogurt and although a strawberry flavored yogurt cannot count for your daily serving a fruit, half a cup of plain yogurt with half a cup of sliced fresh strawberry certainly can and you get stronger bone at the same time!