Light, fresh, and easy to make, this healthy fruit salad recipe is a simple way to enjoy the best of the season. From bright citrus to delicious berries, grapes and grapefruit, pineapple, pomegranates, and more, choose what is best at the grocery store for your fresh fruit salad. It skips heavy dressings and unnecessary extras, letting the natural sweet flavors shine. Whether you make it for everyday or holidays, this is one fresh recipe you can make all year round.
I've been making this healthy fruit salad recipe since I was a kid, thanks to my mom. It looks beautiful, tastes great, and is good for you! Choose from citrus, banana, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, grapes and pomegranate seeds. Kiwi is another nice addition. In summer, try adding melon and pineapple. It's customizable!
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Why You'll lIke This Recipe
- Makes the best of fresh seasonal fruit.
- A beautiful, tasty addition to breakfast and brunch menus.
- No sugary additions (like marshmallows) or heavy dressings.
For another terrific fruit salad, try this refreshing watermelon basil salad with feta.
Recipe Ingredients
This list of fresh fruit is what I often use (not all at once) and it's adaptable for what is best in season. Because many fruits are large, if you don't think you will consume the whole thing (like melons), look in the produce refrigerated section for the containers of pre-cut fruit as they come in manageable quantities.
- Oranges: Valencia, Cara Cara, or navel oranges.
- Grapefruit: Pink or yellow, the pink are a little sweeter and a lovely color.
- Banana: Get greenish ones so they don't get mushy.
- Berries: Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries all work great.
- Grapes: Red or green.
- Pomegranate: The ruby jewels of the produce department.
- Melon: Cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, great in summer.
- Pineapple: Sweet and bright!
- Apples: Use sweet or tart apples to balance flavors.
- Pears: Usually available only in fall and winter, enjoy them when you can.
Chef's tip: Don't drink your fruit (like orange juice), eat the whole fruit! While we've been "sold" that orange juice is really good for us and a great way to start the day, it's like mainlining sugar. As delicious as it tastes, it's not really good for us. There is no fiber to slow down the sugar absorption. Skip the juice and et the whole fruit. It's much healthier!
If you love melon, these easy fruit kabobs are made with summer melon and mint leaves. Make them for a brunch buffet or as a healthy dessert.
Recipe Instructions
Prep heartier fruits (citrus, berries, grapes, melons) up to a day ahead, but add delicate fruits like bananas or cut apples just before serving.
Wash your citrus and follow the directions below for how to segment or section them, catching all of the juices over a bowl. When ready to serve the salad, peel and slice the banana, rinse and dry the berries and combine gently with the citrus. Chill briefly if desired and serve as soon as possible.
How to Section Citrus
The easiest way to segment an orange or grapefruit is to simply cut the fruit in half then use a sharp paring knife or small serrated knife to cut around each individual segment, then pop the segments out.
Another technique is called "to supreme". Trim a thin slice off the top and bottom of the citrus, exposing the fruit and sit it flat. Next, cut off all of the skin and white pith with a sharp knife following the curve of the fruit from top to bottom. Then with a sharp paring knife, cut each segment out over a bowl to catch the juices. It takes a little practice but its not hard.
Serving Suggestions
If you are eating fresh fruit salad for breakfast, add some protein to balance your meal. Scramble up an egg or two or add some plain whole-milk Greek yogurt and a healthy carrot cake muffin.
Healthy fruit salad is also perfect served alongside homemade golden crisp gluten-free waffles or buckwheat pancakes.
Storing
Fruit salad is best served the day of preparing, but it will hold a day if you make it ahead, depending on the fruits chosen. The most fragile is raspberries, so if you want to use them (my favorite), try adding them just before serving.
If fruit salad has been in the refrigerator for a few days and looking a little sad, try pureeing the fruit for a smoothie. You can even freeze the puree in ice cube trays.
Recipe FAQs
Avoid super juicy fruits like watermelon if storing for later, or add it just before serving. Drain excess juice before serving and add a citrus splash (like orange or lemon juice) to keep flavors fresh.
Toss fruits like apples, pears, and bananas in a little lemon or lime juice to slow oxidation and keep them looking fresh longer.
Add texture with nuts, seeds (try chia seeds or hemp seeds), or unsweetened shredded coconut. Fresh herbs like mint or basil also bring extra flavor and freshness. If using basil do not add until serving time.
If fruit is fresh and in season, you probably don't need a dressing. However if you want ideas, use a little extra citrus juice, a drizzle of honey, or a light mint-infused syrup enhances flavor without making it heavy or overly sweet.
Instead of adding sugar such as a sugar simple syrup or pure honey, try using zero-sugar honey and zero-sugar simple syrups based on monk fruit. They taste terrific and do not add sugar, just sweetness in a healthy way.
More Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
From smoothies to overnight oats, and pancakes, waffles, or out favorite dutch baby pancakes, check out the breakfast recipe index for more inspiration!
Did You Make This?
If you make this healthy fruit salad, please comment and let me know. I enjoy hearing from you. If you loved it, please give it a 5 star rating! They really help other readers.
📖 Recipe
Healthy Fruit Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 oranges
- 1 grapefruit preferably pink
- 1 banana
- 1 6-ounce box fresh raspberries
- 1 6-ounce box fresh blackberries
- 1 6-ounce box fresh blueberries
- 12 red or green grapes
- 4 tablespoons pomegranate arils (seeds)
Instructions
- Wash your citrus and follow the directions in the post for how to segment them, catching all of the juices over a bowl. When ready to serve the salad, peel and slice the banana, rinse and dry the berries and combine gently with the citrus. Chill briefly if desired and serve as soon as possible.
Nutrition
📖 Recipe
Seasonal Fresh Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 4-5 large oranges
- 1 large grapefruit preferably red ones
- 1 banana
- 1 6 ounce box fresh raspberries
- 1 6 ounce box fresh blackberries
- 1 6 ounce box fresh blueberries
- 12 green or red seedless grapes
- 4 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- Wash your citrus and follow the directions in the post for how to segment them, catching all of the juices over a bowl.
- When ready to serve the salad, peel and slice the banana, rinse and dry the berries and combine gently with the citrus. Chill briefly if desired and serve as soon as possible.
Notes
Nutrition
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Reva says
Hello there! This article could not be written any better!
Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept preaching about this. I will forward this article to him.
Pretty sure he's going to have a very good read. I appreciate you for sharing!
Julius Dahne says
B"H I'm glad you're spreading the word about the powerful health benefits of citrus fruits like oranges. One compound found in the peel of oranges and other citrus fruits is called hesperidin. I'm convinced this is going to be a household word in 10 years time - this amazing ingredient has been linked in scientific studies to numerous health benefits, including fighting varicose veins, high blood pressure, hemorrhoids and even cancer, may G-d protect us.
Sally says
Hi Julius. You are right, hesperidin is a powerful phytochemical and antioxidant. But as the highest concentrations are in the white part and peel of citrus (often discarded an not consumed), its good to know that hesperidin is also in green vegetables. Phytochemicals are amazing. On the link you added, the post is mostly about the benefits of eating lots of fruits and vegetables, not necessarily organic, and I know you know that. Little I buy is not organic these days, because it reduces the pesticide load on our bodies, is better for the farm workers and environment as well. Like you said, with so much of America not eating fruits and vegetables, just taking that step, whether organic or not, is a big step forward. The Stanford paper published in 9/12 cited there were little nutritional differences with organics (and caused quite an uproar), yet I like the post done by Mother Jones about how the paper sold organics short. Here is that link. http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/09/five-ways-stanford-study-underestimates-organic-food. Soon I will be writing a post about my perspective on organics and GMO as well.
Madonna says
This looks so delicious. Thanks for the healthy idea – especially since having too much holiday. The colors are beautiful. Now back to the market.