Avenue 25’s Favorite Life Hacks, Part 6

Written by: Kelly PileExecutive Vice President and Director of Operations

With summertime approaching and a 3day weekend ahead, eating light, clean and healthy is on my mind! Of course, a little sweetness is always welcome, too…. so may I present a few nifty little fruit-themed life hacks.

Grapes — Have you tried freezing them? It makes a delicious summertime snack (think bite-sized, juicy popsicles). Also if you are like my Mom who loves her wine so cold that she often uses ice cubes, these frozen grapes can chill your drink without watering it down.

Apples — Check out this fantastic video by “The King of Random,” Grant Thompson for some really neat apple hacks including an easier way to cut them, store and pack them without any browning, and interesting edible artwork.

Mango— My family loves mango and this one really changed my fruit life. I have tried a couple methods but find this to be the best, found at the site for all things mango (www.mango.org).Stand the mango stem end down and cut off two “cheeks.”   The middle that remains is mostly mango seed.   Now cut a checkerboard pattern into each cheek, making cuts that go all the way to the skin but not through. Lastly, use a spoon to scoop out the pieces from the mango skin and — voila! — bite-sized mango ready to eat!

Bananas — What fruit hack blog would be complete without the mention of this fruit favorite? Make some nutritionally-packed and delicious ice cream with several ripe bananas.   Peel the bananas and let them sit in the freezer for an hour. Next, slice them up and put them in your blender until smooth. You can also add some almond butter or chocolate chips, or other fun mix-ins. I haven’t tried this one yet but it comes highly recommended!

Want more life hacks? Visit our blog for more of the Avenue 25 staff's favorite tips and tricks.