Apricots and peaches are two summer fruits for children and adults that, although they present similarities, such as the hard bone in the center of both, they come from different trees. Depending on their origin, peaches and apricots hit the market between May and September. Learn about the good things children can get from incorporating these fruits into their diet.
The nectarine, is curiously a variant of the peach with non-hairy skin, that is, it is not a different fruit even if it seems so. Sometimes nectarines are born from the peach tree itself, like a randomly mutated bud, and that's when it is grafted to create a new species.
It is not an artificial genetic modification, but it is common for peach trees to produce a few nectarines from time to time. Like peaches, nectarines can be white or yellow flesh, the flesh can be attached to the pit or loose.
The apricot, for its part, is a rounded fruit with a groove around it, separating two almost symmetrical halves. Apricots are usually yellow to orange in color, although sometimes they have redder areas, which usually means that the fruit is even sweeter.
Its skin is velvety and its pulp has a pleasant taste and a sweet taste. However, and despite being very juicy, its flesh turns mealy when the apricot is too ripe.
- Regarding the nutritional content of apricots, nectarines and peaches, They are characterized by containing vitamin C, potassium and carotenoids.
- The peach can in fact cover up to 25% of the nutritional needs of a child, and its contribution in carotenoids, in addition to giving good color to the skin and help nail, tooth and hair growth, It is very important for eye health.
- They also contain traces of other minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, very important for the correct growth of children, and iodine, necessary for a good intellectual activity.
- Also, these fruits are usually very rich in fiber, mainly insoluble, which prevents constipation and helps regulate intestinal transit.
- Additionally, and being summer fruits, when they reach their optimum ripeness point, apricots and peaches have a important water content, so they are ideal to ensure good hydration in our little ones.
- Special mention deserves the traditional peaches in syrup, which, unfortunately, and given its production process, in which approximately 250g of sugar is added for each kg of peach pulp, contains more than twice as much sugar as the original fruit. The contents of vitamins and minerals are also slightly decreased, so this variety should not be included in the diet of children frequently.
You can read more articles similar to Summer fruits for kids: peaches, nectarines and apricots, in the Infant Nutrition On-Site category.