Fruit

Veteran-owned food truck brings ‘fruit nachos’ to NCFL

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – A new food truck, owned and operated by veterans, is making its way across North Central Florida. Nacho Sweets Owner and military veteran Demetrius Hardaway said he was inspired to start up the truck due to his love for unique and New Orleans-inspired food.

“A lot of my friends loved my cooking so they were asking from the time I got out of the military when I was going to open a food truck,” said Hardaway.

His unique menu features a variety of items from savory wings to sweet New Orleans-style snowcones, but the truck’s signature item is fruit nachos.

“It’s pretty much a fried tortilla chip covered in cinnamon sugar and topped off with different fruits from strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, and grapes and then we have different drizzles,” said Manager Jasmine Headen.

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Also a veteran and still serving the National Guard, Headen said this new business is all about bringing people together.

“We want to give back to those, you know our brothers and sisters in arms and we want them to know we’re there for them and pretty much want people to be there for us,” said Headen.

The Nacho Sweets truck has been making its way around North Central Florida for just over a month now.

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10 Healthy Fruit Smoothie Recipes

low angle view of a beautiful young asian woman throwing blueberry into the blender to make a healthy smoothie with banana, spinach and vegan milk

Oscar WongGetty Images

Though it’s fleeting, summer is *here*, folks, and ICYMI, this is the season for sipping fruit smoothies while you’re sitting poolside, chilling on your roof in the heat, or whipping up a yummy (and nutritious!) midday snack. However, it’s easy to go a ~little overboard~ when adding ingredients to your smoothies, making them less-than-healthy, per se. (But hey, not everything has to be about #health, so if you’re not concerned, just make what’s most delicious to you!)

First things first, making a nutritious smoothie is all about what you put in there. “When making a smoothie, the goal should be to make a nutrient-rich drink that helps you feel satisfied,” explains Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CPT. “Adding sources of fiber, lean protein, and healthy fats are one of the best ways to do this. You want to avoid large amounts of added sugars, however, since this often provides little nutritional value or fullness.” That means being mindful of the spoonfuls of granulated sugar you add, but also being weary of how much fruit juice you throw into your smoothie, since that can contain large amounts of sugar, too.

If you need a bit of inspo, think about what texture or flavor you’re craving, and then guide your search for a recipe based on that. For example, if you want a creamy smoothie, try something with avocado or bananas. If you want something sweet, look for a smoothie recipe with pineapples or dates. Want a minty taste?

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