(By ATW Nutrition Coaching) ‘The Perfect Pantry’ is a series dedicated to teaching you what you should have in your kitchen at all times if you want to eat healthily and lose weight.

The best sugar to eat

Fruit… the best sugar you can keep in your home is fruit. Fruit is FULL of sugar, but it’s not the bad kind!!! (Contrary to some ‘revolutionary’ diets that are currently popular, a chocolate bar and an apple are NOT the same.)

Fruit is packed full of vitamins, minerals, fibre and energy

It’s as ‘natural’ as food can be in this day and age. Along with vegetables, it should make up the majority share of your diet – 10 servings per day (four fruit, six veg) is a good target.

Fruit is amazing as a salad, it can be blended into smoothies, it can be eaten from your hand as an instant snack, and it makes a fantastic dessert. If you are someone who craves sugar, eat a banana (or whatever fruit you favour) and tell me it doesn’t take care of the craving.

No, you can’t sweeten your coffee with fruit, nor can you bake a cake with it

Newsflash: if you’re sweetening your coffee and baking cakes you’re not on diet. Learn to drink unsweetened drinks and stop eating cake. Eat some fruit instead. It’s good for you.

The best part?

You can NEVER get tired of fruit because there’s always something else to eat, and fruit changes with the seasons. Go get some NOW!