A dear friend recently called to tell me, “I thought of you today; I ate a pear!” This is a phrase I often hear from friends, family, and even my students. Admittedly, I appreciate hearing it. This is not only because I personally love pears (I have an almond butter and pear sandwich in my lunch today!), but because I know that every time my loved ones take a bite of a juicy Anjou or crisp Bosc, they are doing something wonderful for their bodies. Pears are delicious and have been cultivated and enjoyed across cultures for thousands of years. Plus, pears are packed with fiber, phytonutrients, vitamin C, and potassium, nutrients that have been linked to preventing some of the most prevalent chronic diseases. Perhaps this is why pears have been recognized as one of the 20 most popular fruits by the Food and Drug Administration?

When I first started writing about pears, my friends wondered, why pears? My retort was, why not! Pears are a delicious and healthful fruit, and most people simply need to eat more fruit. As a connoisseur of fine cuisine and a nutrition professional, I can stand behind this amazing food 100 percent. So, my question is, have you had your pear today?