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    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    BEST Fresh Fruit Salad

    Published: Jan 17, 2021 · Modified: Apr 23, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This incredibly easy fruit salad made with fresh pineapple and berries will be your new 'go to' for school lunches, snacks and side dishes! And it takes just 15 minutes max to make!

    Fresh fruit salad in a white bowl.

    This fresh fruit salad is a family favorite! Not only is it easy and delicious, but it's one fruit recipe that you can prep ahead of time. In fact, it's likely the best meal prep fruit option out there!

    And it's so pretty! I've even served it in a glass trifle bowl and set it as the center piece!

    There is no need to add juice or make a sweet dressing. The juice from the pineapple creates a natural juice all on its own!

    I literally make this at least once a week, often twice! For more fruit-based recipes that kids love, check out my mango avocado toast, tropical blue smoothie bowl, and strawberry goat cheese salad recipes.

    And for more easy school lunch ideas, take a look at my Lunch Box Snacks post and kid-approved Chicken Wrap recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Dietitian Tip
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • How to Cut a Pineapple Without Waste
    • More Easy Berry Recipes
    • Fresh Fruit Salad

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Simple recipe (no dressing).
    • Quick and healthy snack or side dish that kids love.
    • Naturally sweetened. No sugar, juice, or syrups added.
    • Perfect for school lunches.
    • Excellent side for kids with food allergies (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free).
    • Ready to serve right away or stored in the fridge for later.
    • Can be used to make fruit and yogurt parfaits.
    • Can be served as a fruit bowl alone or topped with granola.

    Ingredient Notes

    One whole pineapple surrounded by individual containers of raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries as you would buy from the grocery store.
    • Pineapple Either cut your own pineapple into pieces or purchase pre-cut fresh pineapple. Pineapple contains manganese, copper, various vitamins (including vitamin C), and fiber. It also contains bromelain, an enzyme that is thought to help with digestion and reduce inflammation.
    • Raspberries High in antioxidants, phytonutrients, and fiber.
    • Blackberries Blackberries are among the berries highest in antioxidants and fiber.
    • Blueberries and strawberries Strawberries and blueberries should be eaten frequently. They contain anthocyanins, fiber, and vitamins.
    My Food Storage Container Pick for School Lunch Sides
    These food storage containers are leakproof and dishwasher safe.
    SHOP NOW

    Photo Credit: amazon.com

    Image of stackable stainless steel food storage containers with different colored lids from amazon.com.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s a quick overview of the steps to make this fruit salad. For the full list of ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.

    1. Use a fine mesh colander to rinse and drain the berries.
    2. If using strawberries, slice or quarter them. Set aside.
    3. Place pineapple pieces in a large bowl. If you are cutting up your own pineapple, be sure to use a sharp knife. For specific instructions on how I cut up a pineapple, scroll down to the section titled How to Cut a Pineapple Without Waste.
    4. Put berries on top of pineapple pieces.
    5. Carefully mix berries in with the pineapple.
    6. Serve!

    Dietitian Tip

    Fresh fruit salad in three separate stainless steel lunch containers with the lids off.

    Make this fruit salad in a large bowl. Serve it as a side with dinner and then divide what's left into several small lunch containers (see my lunch container pick above). This way, you'll have a delicious side to serve with dinner and fruit for school lunches set for days.

    Expert Tips

    • I have found Aldi to have the best prices on pineapple and organic berries.
    • To save time, buy pre-cut pineapple pieces.
    • The juice from freshly cut pineapple blends adds enough liquid and sweetness to the fruit. For this reason, an extra 'dressing' or 'syrup' is not needed.
    • Pineapple does take a little work to cut. Consider this as a way to increase your level of N.E.A.T (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), lol!
    • Mixing pineapple with fresh berries helps prevent the berries from going bad so quickly (likely due to the acid in the pineapple).
    • Do not use moldy berries. In fact, moldy berries should not be eaten by anyone.
    • I often soak berries in a vinegar water bath (vinegar mixed with water) for about two minutes before I rinse them because it helps remove any potential mold and bacteria.
    • If you choose to soak the berries in a vinegar bath first, be sure to rinse them well with water after removing them from the vinegar water bath so they will not taste like vinegar.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do you cut up a pineapple?

    There are various ways to cut a pineapple. I highlight the quickest way I have found (for me) to cut a pineapple below, and it seems to produce the least amount of waste. Do what works best for you.

    What fruits work best in a fruit salad.

    I've included my favorite fruits to use in a fruit salad that are easy. Grapes are also easy and go well with pineapple. Mango, kiwi, and cut orange segments are also tasty additions to fruit salad, they just require more work to cut than berries or grapes and they don't seem to store as well once mixed.

    For same day eating, you could use seasonal fruits to make a fruit salad with cut up apples, bananas, and/or pears, they just may not store well in the refrigerator.

    What is better, fresh fruit juice or fresh fruit salad? And why?

    Because most of the fiber is lost when juicing, eating fresh fruit gives you the satisfaction that comes from eating food and it will also help you to feel full longer.

    How to Cut a Pineapple Without Waste

    Using a sharp knife is key to making this and easy and quick process. I like to use my bread knife for cutting pineapple. Otherwise, a sharp chef's knife will do the trick.

    Whole pineapple laying on its side with the ends cut off.
    • Place the pineapple on it's side and slice off the top and bottom inch of the pineapple.
    Peeled whole pineapple standing upright.
    • Turn the pineapple so that it is sitting upright, with the bottom side down.
    • Cut off the outer skin of the pineapple from top to bottom in strips, working your way around the entire pineapple.
    Tip view of a peeled pineapple, sliced along the core with a knife.
    • Next, cut the pineapple into four sections, cutting lengthwise along each side of the core.
    Pineapple being sliced into pieces with a knife.
    • Lay each section on its side and slice, again lengthwise, into smaller sections.
    • Then, cut into smaller pieces by slicing the other direction.
    • Set the core aside and store it to be used in a smoothie another time.

    More Easy Berry Recipes

    • Strawberry Cream Cheese Dip
    • Best Whole Wheat Pancakes with Blueberries
    • Easy Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl
    • Lemon Blueberry Muffin Recipe

    Did your kids love this Fresh Fruit Salad? Please leave a 5-star rating below or a review in the comments section!

    Don't forget to snap a pic of their beautiful bowl of fresh fruit and tag @carrots.and.cookies on Instagram so I can see it. Enjoy!

    fruit salad in a white bowl

    Fresh Fruit Salad

    Kristi
    Say 'hello' to your new favorite fresh fruit salad, with pineapple and berries. It will be your new 'go to' for kids' snacks, school lunches, when hosting, and for picnics!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Additional Time 0 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 43 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Good quality knife
    • 1 Collander
    • Glass storage container
    • 1 Cutting board

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pineapple
    • 3-4 cups berries 18-24 ounces of fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and/or strawberries)

    Instructions
     

    • Cut up pineapple into small pieces.
    • Place pineapple pieces in the bottom of a large serving bowl.
    • Soak berries in a vinegar-water bath for two minutes, and rinse with water. Drain.
    • Slice, halve, or quarter strawberries.
    • Add berries to the pineapple and carefully mix through.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    See post for steps on 'How to cut up a pineapple without waste'.
    To make a vinegar-water math, mix 0.25 cups (120mL) vinegar with 0.75 cups (360mL) water.
    Mix berries in very carefully with the pineapple so they maintain their shape.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 43kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 77mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 46IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura

      May 03, 2022 at 1:34 pm

      Perfect combination of fruit, thanks for taking the guessing work out of the delicious salad.

      Reply

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    Kristi Ruth wearing a green long sleeved blouse and jeans, holding tri-colored carrots plated on a white oval platter with one hand and leaning on the counter with the other hand in a kitchen.
    Welcome! Kristi is a Registered Dietitian and busy mom of three, ages 7-15. After being displaced from a housefire in 2021, Kristi decided to say 'goodbye' to her long commute so she could turn her passion for sharing easy recipes and tips to help you learn what it means to feed your family well with less stress into a reality. Let's get cooking!

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