Avoid: According to Green, over-ripe cantaloupes have "lumps or soft spots." She also suggests avoiding rock-hard or lopsided melons. Also, watch out for mold, which can indicate decay.
Storage: Uncut melons can be stored at room temperature for up to a week. Refrigerate cut melon in an airtight container for up to five days.
Interesting: The cantaloupes we eat are actually muskmelons.
More: 4 Fruits You Should Snack On
Cherries
Why: Delicious, sweet and oh-so-low in calories.
Health Perks: Fifteen cherries have only 64 calories and more than 10 percent of the daily value for vitamin C. They are also rich in vitamin E, contain 2 grams of fiber and are a good source of potassium, magnesium, iron and folate. Cherries contain a pigment called anthocyanin, an antioxidant linked to a variety of health benefits including reduction of risk for heart disease and cancer. Additionally, cherries are one of the few food sources of melatonin, shown to aid in sleep.
Nutrition: Serving size: 15 cherries (102g), calories 64, total fat 0.2g, cholesterol 0mg, sodium 0mg, total carbohydrate 16.3g, dietary fiber 2.1g, sugars 13.1g, protein 1.1g.
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Seek Out: High-quality cherries are firm and dark red, with bright, lustrous, plump-looking surfaces and fresh-looking stems.
Avoid: Soft, shriveled or blemished cherries. Green also suggests avoiding dark or brittle stems.
Storage: Remove any that are soft or split, says Green. Then refrigerate. Check the fruit occasionally and remove any that have gone bad. You can freeze cherries—with or without pits—by rinsing and draining them thoroughly, spreading them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and placing them in the freezer.
Interesting: Seventy percent of the cherries grown come from four states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah.
More: 18 Energy-Boosting Fruits
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