Spring is finally here! Flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and our favorite citrus fruits are ready to be enjoyed. Not only do oranges, mandarins, and grapefruit taste great, they also have many nutrients to keep us happy and healthy.

– Oranges: Probably the best known citrus fruit, oranges are a great spring time snack with a refreshing taste. If you are not a fan of eating whole oranges, try cutting them up and pairing them with other favorite fruits to make a fresh fruit salad or kabob.

– Grapefruit: Grapefruits are loaded with many nutrients but are often the most bitter of the citrus fruits. To avoid the sugar that many pour on grapefruit, try cutting them up and using them in various salads with a combination of leafy greens, avocados, nuts, and seeds.

– Mandarins: Also thought of as mini oranges and sometimes marketed as Cuties and halos, mandarins are great on-the-go snacks for work, school, or any day trip with the kids. They tend to be sweeter and are also easy to peel.

– Clementine: These are a hybrid between a mandarin orange and sweet orange. Clementine are also delicious, nutritious, portable, and easy to peel.

– Lemons & Limes: These dynamic duos are great for doses of antioxidants, but are not usually eaten by themselves due to their sour and tart tastes. Try adding a few slices of lemons and limes to your water or squeezing some fresh juice on a salad or fish dish for an added kick of flavor.

Other Sources of Vitamin C
Citrus fruits are not the only great tasting food with vitamin C! There are plenty of other fruits and vegetables that have the same immune boosting nutrients such as:

– Broccoli
– Spinach
– Strawberries
– Peppers
– Kiwi
– Guava
– Tomatoes
– Peas
– Pineapple
– Cauliflower
– Brussel Sprouts
– Mango

For delicious recipes, nutrition tips, and to find cooking and nutrition classes, go to the Kendall Reagan Nutrition Center website. More great info also available at the College of Health and Human Sciences Pinterest board.