I’m often asked “what foods do you snack on during the day?” Well one of the foods I eat quite regularly are berries and after a recent survey of 2000 men, only 5% of them ate berries.

So when I say berries, I’m referring to Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries and Cherries. Looking at the photo above is making me hungry and with the warm weather we’ve had in the UK recently, ice cold berries really go down well.

Because of the hot weather we’ve had in the UK this spring, strawberries will be available in abundance from early May this year. This also makes a great family trip out. We visited a strawberry picking farm last year and we all had great fun.

Facts And Figures

I see lots of people consuming a banana as a pre or post workout food. New research from British Summer Fruits, reveals that the most popular snack men eat before or after exercising is fruit (36%), but this tends to be bananas (63%) or apples (49%). Less than one in ten men say they eat berries often when exercising. Others choose pasta, energy bars or energy drinks.

What people may not realise are the health benefits of berries! Especially men. Just this morning, I reached out to a few male followers on my Instagram account and asked them their opinions on eating berries in general. Someone said “They’re too expensive when compared to other fruits.” However, a standard portion of fresh berries (say seven strawberries, two handfuls of blueberries, one handful of blackberries or 20 raspberries) works out at a similar price to buying a store bought energy bar or drink. They’re perfect to be eaten straight out of a box or packet and I’ll add a bunch into my daily smoothie.

A recent study carried out by the University of Reading revealed that eating berries can keep us focused, improve reaction times and stabilise mood. Everyone needs that on a Monday morning! This is as well as sustaining cognitive function for hours after consumption. For me, this makes berries the perfect pre-workout snack.

Here are some more health benefits to berries, found on the Seasonal Berries website.

• Berries are great for losing weight! Their high water content means you fill up quicker and without the calories
• If you feel you’re lacking in vitamin C – symptoms include dry hair and skin, easy bruising and painful joints, try reaching for the strawberries! Just seven provide you with your whole recommended daily allowance
• Just one cup of raspberries contains 12% of your RDA of Vitamin K. This is essential for healthy blood and bones

Interestingly, more research I came across is that 4.12pm is the dreaded time we are most likely to crave sugary food and fall off the bandwagon. So next time, reach for a handful of berries for a health hit rather than your work vending machine.

Thanks for reading,