I know that pineapples aren’t exactly local and seasonal (depending on where you’re reading this) but they’re delicious and I enjoy them on occasion.

Ever wonder how to tell if the whole pineapple you’ve purchased is ripe? It’s really easy, just pull one of the leaves out from its crown. If it comes out easily then your pineapple is good to go.

Fresh pineapple is great on its own. It also works well in salsa with chicken. Just keep in mind that pineapple contains bromelain which is a tenderizer so, unless you want any leftover chicken to turn to mush, keep your salsa in a separate container from your chicken.

One cup of pineapple contains about 82 calories, 2.3 grams of fibre, 21 mg of calcium, 179 mg of potassium, 29 mcg of folate, and 78 mg of vitamin C. There may be additional health benefits attributable to the bromelain in the pineapple. As it’s an anti-inflammatory agent it may help minimize symptoms of diseases such as osteoarthritis. Although additional research is needed to determine if this effect is anything more than anecdotal, as pineapple is a tasty and nutritious food there’s certainly no harm in eating (unless you’re allergic) it in the hopes of obtaining additional benefits.