I am small, oval, have a shiny appearance, contain a pit, and I can be green, brown, black or purple in color. What am I?  

I am an olive! Olives grow on trees and are native to Mediterranean, Asian and African countries, but are cultivated around the world today. The majority of olives produced in the United States are grown in California and used for olive oil. Because olives contain seeds, called pits, and grow from flower blossoms they are classified as a fruit. That’s right, fruit!  

Fresh from the tree, olives are green, bitter and have a much firmer texture when compared to an olive that has been soaked in brine. The longer olives are left on the tree, the deeper the color and more robust the flavor. When purchasing olives, you will typically find them canned, jarred, or pressed into oil. Depending on the variety, canned and jarred olives may be whole with the pit intact, sliced, or pitted (and sometimes stuffed with vegetables or cheese!). Canned and jarred olives have a long shelf life; store them in the pantry until open and then keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, remembering to check the expiration date. 

Olives, just like other fruits, have plentiful vitamins and minerals that help our bodies stay healthy. Vitamin E protects our blood cells from damage and keeps our immune system in check. Both olives and olive oil provide our skin and brains with beneficial fats and antioxidants that help protect our cells from damage and help to keep us feeling fuller longer. Just be mindful about how many olives you eat because they are often very high in sodium! 

Incorporating olives into your diet might sound intimidating but is probably easier than you think. There are so many ways to eat olives: added to pasta salad, green salads, or even as a topping for pizza, tacos, hummus, or on a DIY charcuterie board with crackers and cheese, and more! Get started by whipping up a batch of easy Personalized Pasta Salad, our recipe of the month. 

Olive this food talk is making me hungry! The next time your body is asking for a snack, try a snack with olives!