No Tricks Just Healthy Halloween Fruit Treats

Photo Credit: tim ellis via Compfight cc

Halloween may be rooted in ghosts and ghouls but the first thing that comes to our mind? Sweets!

Taking your children out to receive buckets upon buckets of chocolate or, as we prefer, eating the remainder of the sweets not picked up by costume wearing kids.

But, at Fruit For The Office HQ, we have a very different kind of sweet tooth - one that can only be curbed by nature's candy.

So, enjoy a tasty treat this halloween - without the tricks of sickness, hyperactive kids and bloaty belly - with these amazing healthy Halloween party foods.



Banana Ghosts

Serves 12

- 6 small bananas
- 36 chocolate chips

Cut the bananas in half and place flat side down.

Push chocolate chips into the bananas to create a ghoulish guise!



Pumpkin Oranges

Serves 12

- 12 small satsumas/clementines
- 1 stalk celery

Peel the satsumas/clementines. Wash and cut the celery into small pieces. Push into the tops of the satsumas/clementines to create pumpkin stalks.




Melon Brain

- 1 large watermelon
- Sharp knife

You need to peel the watermelon to expose the green flesh then carve a brain like pattern deep enough into the melon that the red flesh is on show in the carvings.

For more detailed information and photos try this great tutorial: http://www.instructables.com/id/Halloween-Melon-Brain/step1/Supplies/



Tweet us @office_fruit with photos of your Halloween fruit treats and we'll retweet our favourites!

Why Bananas Are So Good For You

Photo Credit: Steve Hopson via Compfight cc

Bananas are well known for being undeniably delicious but did you know that this fruit is hiding a few secrets? All neatly dressed up in their smart yellow suit, they're packed full of good stuff that will keep your body, skin, hair and heart in tip top condition. Oh, and did we mention they're delicious already?

Fruit for the Office are strong believers in the power of bananas and we've been sending boxes upon boxes of the things to support UNICEF at events, including London Marathon, Prudential RideLondon and Brighton Marathon.

If you think we're going a bit bananas over the long, yellow fruit, read on and find out why it's really a banana a day that keeps the doctor away!

Potassium Power

Everyone knows that bananas are packed full of potassium but do you know why it's so important? This vital nutrient helps regulate blood pressure, keeping the love muscle working at its best and reducing the likelihood of heart-related illnesses. Potassium is also great for the bones as it helps to reduce calcium excretion, keeping bones strong and reducing the risk of osteoporosis. 

Tummy Troubles

High in fibre, bananas will clear your system in no time to make sure that you maintain healthy bowel movements. So if you've been spending a lot of time thinking about the toilet, a banana could be a natural alternative to alleviate digestive problems. Also, if you've been suffering from diarrhea an under ripe (green) banana can help keep things solid whereas if your complications are caused by constipation then an over ripe (completely yellow with brown spots) will get things moving. Saves you having to buy two remedies for these common digestive problems - and you get a bit of your 5-a-day!

Brilliant B6

There's so many different types of B vitamin but the humble banana is bursting with the B6 kind. B6 has so many benefits including blood production, strengthening the nervous system, aiding weight loss, protecting against heart attacks and type 2 diabetes, preventing kidney stones and even alleviating depression. It's the vitamin that does it all and it's stuffed inside every banana ready for you to reap the benefits - and enjoy a delicious piece of fruit.

Immunity Booster

If you've been feeling the effects of every cough, sneeze and sniffle, you could be suffering from a lowered immune system. Chomping on a banana can help speed up production of white blood cells, thanks to the cytolcin it contains, which can help to strengthen your immune system.

Stop Stomach Ulcers

Excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach can cause painful stomach ulcers but bananas can not only prevent them, they can also help to treat ulcers alongside medication. Bananas help to create a thick, protective barrier in the stomach that can help to protect against impending or existing damage.

Diet Saviour

Low in calories and fat but high in nutrients and energy so bananas are the perfect snack for weight loss. They'll keep you feeling full and energised with natural sugars to keep you going without weighing you down.

Banana Beauty

High in moisture, it's great for maintaining the condition of healthy skin and hair. Just eating these potassium powerhouses will go a long way to helping you look your best but if you can bear not tasting one of your office fruit bananas and instead mashing them up into one of our easy peasy natural face or hair mask - you'll reap even more of the benefits. Who knew eating delicious food could make you so gorgeous?!

Gym Buddy

Bananas are perfect for exercising - not as extremely light dumbbells, however! Eat one an hour before heading to the gym or for a run for natural - and sustained - energy. Bananas won't make blood sugar levels spike so you won't fizzle out halfway through your workout! Then, after your workout, bananas can help with blood flow, muscle repair and even stop the dreaded cramp. Partial to a banana but don't fancy one every single day you go to the gym? Check out our list of other perfect pre and post workout snacks!

Instant Happiness

Eating delicious fruit should make you happy anyway but bananas contain tryptophan that - upon entering the bloodstream - converts into serotonin. Serotonin is the feel good chemical and gives you an amazing mood boost. So eating a banana, alongside therapy or medication, can be perfect for depression, PMS and stress. Next time you're feeling the strain at work, eat a banana as it may just make your day at the office that little bit better!

Tweet us @office_fruit or leave a comment below to let us know which of these reasons will get you eating more bananas!

Berry Crazy: Berry or not a Berry?

Strawberries, Blackberries, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Blackberries... All berries? It seems pretty clear from their names but all may not be as it seems...

Try our interactive quiz and see how your berry knowledge stacks up!

(Roll over each image to see the answer then click on it for more info!)

How'd your berry knowledge stack up? Let us know in the comments below!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Deliciously Digital - Fruit in Video Games

It's a Friday and it's natural to be staring at the clock, watching the minutes tick away until it hits 5pm and you can finally stick on your best outfit and hit the bars and the clubs all weekend long.

Or, if you're more like myself, you're looking forward to vegging out on the sofa for a weekend-long pig out session accompanied by your favourite video games. However, who said you had to pig out on greasy nosh? With all that fruit delivered by your favourite London-based office fruit company, I'm sure you're hoping the company ordered a little too much just so you can take a bit home with you.

However if, like most other companies, the office already chowed down on our delicious fruit then, fear not, because there's plenty of video game fruit to feast your eyes on this weekend...

• Wumpa Fruit - Crash Bandicoot

Bringing back memories of everyone's favourite Playstation game, Crash Bandicoot shows how a little wumpa fruit - which looks suspiciously like our apples - goes a long way, giving you extra lives, powering you up and even letting you fire it out of a bazooka (not a recommended way to get your five-a-day) 

• Cherries - Pac-Man

Going way back and getting completely retro, Pac-Man knew how much fruit was going to help his cause and give him points and power - we can't say our cherries have the exact same powers but they are definitely tasty enough to test out. 

• Banana skins - Mario Kart

If you haven't played a Mario Kart game before then I fear for your fun levels. However, the use of fruit in this game is a lot more dangerous as banana skins are used to make your kart slip and slide and hopefully cause your opponents to lose the race. We hope you eat the bananas you order from us though rather than throwing them in front of oncoming traffic...