Chronicles of a Late Bloomer

• Taste Rating:
  
• Health Rating:
  
• Environment Rating:
  
• Processed Rating:
  
• Portability Rating:
  
• Overall Rating:
  

Taste Rating: YUM. I usually like my “sweet” tastes to be paired with another dose of something — salty, mellow, warm, tangy… In this case, the balance of sweet and tart is usually just right.

Health Rating: Low cal, high fiber, plus nutrients. Awesome.

Environment Rating: Of course, if you can get organic and locally-grown ones, it’s best. But these need no packaging and they biodegrade.

Processed Rating: We’re talking about fresh cherries here, people.

Portability Rating: Super easy to pack in a lunch.

Overall Rating:

Is there any more perfect “diet food” than cherries? I don’t know where they’re coming from at this time of year (and the budding environmentalist in me will just have to wear a ball gag for the duration of that question…) but damn. Portable, hand-held, and delicious. They’re sweet and they have a satisfyingly-smooth pit in the middle of each one that’s just waiting to be sucked and toyed with and poked at with your tongue. Cherries will satisfy all of your oral-fixation needs, friend.

PLUS, they have tons of nutritional benefits.

One cup of cherries (a strange thing to measure with all of that negative space — maybe 10 or 15?) has:

• 77 calories
• 2.5 grams of fiber
• 40% of RDA for Vitamin A (1988 IU)
• 26% of RDA for Vitamin C (15.5 mg)
• and even a little bit of protein

But for me the best part is that it keeps your mouth and your hands occupied so well for so long.