What Is the Best Fruit to Eat at Work?

I had the pleasure of visiting some of our Midwest clients last week. They were so generous with their time, showing me around their offices and explaining how they use our fruit. I noticed a common theme as the day went on: Bananas are the office favorite, and everyone has a favorite banana color.

Personally, I like to eat bananas when they’re yellow with green tips, which is the stage we always aim to deliver at The FruitGuys. One client shared that they like them deep yellow, just before they start to get spots. (By the way, those dark spots don’t mean the bananas are going bad. They indicate that the starch in the fruit is turning into sugar, which makes the bananas sweeter and more aromatic. They’re also softer and easier to squish!)

Why Are Bananas the Office Favorite? 

Bananas aren’t just a favorite for our clients, they’re also America’s favorite fresh fruit. I’m sure it’s because they’re super easy to eat, tasty, and versatile. You can slice them onto your oatmeal or use them to top off a piece of toast with nut butter for a filling breakfast. (Most people peel bananas from the top of the stem where they were connected to the tree, but I find it easier to peel them from the bottom using this simple method.) They’re good for you, too.

Bananas Have a Bonanza of Benefits

Tasty bananas are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like potassium, which is key for keeping our hearts healthy. It helps remove extra sodium from our bodies and reduces our blood pressure. Bananas are also a good source of fiber—just one banana gives us roughly 12% of our daily dose. They have magnesium, too, which can boost our performance in the gym and may even help us get better sleep. You can find even more fun banana facts here.

My Favorite Way to Use Leftover Bananas

When I have ripe bananas that I don’t want to eat, I can, of course, make banana bread. But I also like to freeze them. Frozen bananas are a great addition to smoothies, and I also really like them as a replacement for ice cream. I take frozen bananas, add a tiny bit of almond milk (you might not need any, depending on how thick you like your banana cream), and blend them together to make a snack with the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. You can flavor it in endless ways: Mix in peanut butter or hazelnut spread, sprinkle on chocolate chips, or drizzle a little chocolate syrup on top for a lovely treat.

So, Are Bananas the Best Fruit to Eat at Work?

Bananas are definitely the most popular fruit to eat at work, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best. Seedless, easy-to-peel mandarins are just as convenient to snack on. Apples are just as versatile. And every fruit is loaded with health benefits for your body and brain. Ultimately, I don’t think there is a best fruit to eat at work. What’s best is eating a variety of fruits that rotate seasonally. Enjoy strawberries and blueberries in the spring, peaches and plums in the summer, grapes and persimmons in the fall, pomegranates and kiwis in the winter, and apples and bananas all year long. (This guide is a big help if you’re not sure where to start, or you can check out our mixes that change with the seasons.) When you eat a wide variety of seasonal fruit, you’ll get the best, most local flavors and the biggest range of health benefits, too.