If you’ve been eating frozen grapes for years, same. They’re delicious. Upon scanning every grocery store aisle recently, as you do, I spotted a bag of frozen cherries in the freezer section and got curious. Could they work as a healthy snack, too? Well, upon further investigation (aka eating them by the spoonful!), I’m happy to report they’re everything I hoped they’d be and more.
I’m not the only fan of sweet, beautiful, candy-like cherries. McKel Kooienga, MS, RD, LDN, the registered dietitian behind Nutrition Stripped, recently shared her thoughts on the fruit on Instagram, making it very clear they’re winners far beyond the taste department. They’re also loaded with health benefits.
Buying Tip: When you buy frozen cherries, look for an option that’s pitted with no sugar added. Cherries should be the only ingredient listed on the bag.
Buying Tip: When you buy frozen cherries, look for an option that’s pitted with no sugar added. Cherries should be the only ingredient listed on the bag.Aside from being an all-star snack filled with fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C, Kooienga says they can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce high blood pressure, enhance your memory, and reduce inflammation. They can also help you sleep better. Aka all the more reason to continue eating them as a bedtime snack. “The presence of tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin in sweet cherries interact with cherry phenolics to help regulate sleep cycles,” she writes.
Don’t get be wrong—I’ll always be a fan of frozen grapes. But frozen cherries are officially part of my snack lineup, too. Sometimes plain, sometimes with a little vegan whipped cream on top, and sometimes blended into nice cream. The options are endless.