Whether you like them sweet or tart, simply presented or dressed up in a pie, the cherry is a very fine berry indeed.

NUTRITION
You’ve probably never heard of anthocyanins, but when you dive into a bowl of cherries you’re taking full advantage of these antioxidant-enhanced pigments. It turns out the molecules that give cherries their rosy red glow have positive powers; researchers suspect they act as pain-relievers and anti-inflammatories. Also, one cup of cherries has no fat, fewer than 90 calories, three grams of fiber and important nutrients like beta carotene, vitamin C and potassium.

BERRY GOOD OATMEAL
A study performed by the University of Michigan found that a cherry-rich diet leads to lower levels of body fat and better heart health. What better way to start your day than with a bowl of oatmeal (also proven to help the heart) decorated with cherries? Dried, frozen or fresh cherries will surely brighten up your morning routine while setting you off on the right nutritional track.

FROZEN CHERRIES
Tart cherries that have spent some time in the deep-freeze not only make excellent snack accessories, they retain their positive health benefits. Keep a bag handy and try adding them to smoothies or parfaits for a cool treat. They can even be used in most recipes that call for cherries (like cookies and muffins) — just let them thaw for a few minutes before throwing them into the mix.

Freezing cherries will improve the shelf-life by 10 times. Cherray!