Mango Bango

Here in South Florida, the smell of mangoes are in the air and the fruits are abundant, sweet and juicy.  While there are many varieties of this incredible fruit, the Carrie mango is my favorite for it lacks the strands of fiber often found in other varieties.  A few years ago we planted one in memory of my brother, Mike, and while it is taking it’s sweet time maturing (appropriate for those that knew Mike) my neighbor’s tree is dropping fruits daily and they have generously been sharing with us.  In my opinion, the only way to eat a mango is when it has fallen from a tree because it has naturally ripened.  I have NEVER eaten one from the grocery store that tastes even remotely as good as these.  My students are also known to show me love, bringing me these gems as they fall from their trees, as well.

While I make banana bread quite often for Thursday night dinner’s, I think it’s time to try a mango bread this weekend and present it to the neighbors  as a way to say thanks for the abundance of fruit they are sharing.  I have one recipe that was given to me years ago by one of my SilverSneaker students, Hilda.   I might try it, but if anyone happens to have a good mango bread recipe, please pass it on!  Modifying baked items to eliminate animal products is pretty easy, so I am sure I will do that…gotta taste before you can give a home-baked gift, right?

Mangoes are rich in vitamins (lots of them) and nutrients and have about 65 calories in 3.5 ounces.  If someone you know has a mango tree, I would strongly suggest you befriend them!  The most consumed fruit in the entire world, you can grill it, bake with it, use it in smoothies or eat it fresh off the tree…  just don’t eat the skin and if allergies are an issue for you, you might want to avoid touching the skin all together as for some it causes allergic reactions.   I like to cut it in 2 halves (cut slowly against the outside of the big pit and then cut then scoop out the flesh and cut into cubes) but you can also peel it and eat it whole, but be prepared to have the juice dripping everywhere.  For that reason, I generally eat them over the sink!!!

Mangoes.  Just another way to help see your plate as half full!

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• 5 Healthy Reasons and Recipes to Love Mangoes (fitsugar.com)
• 100 Best Health Foods #6: Mangoes (sonappy.wordpress.com)
• Mango – The king of fruit (lovelyharshal.wordpress.com)