Add zest to a green salad with stoned cherries. Try any combination of sliced meat, cherries and nuts in your salad. Great flavour combinations to try are: turkey, cherries and almonds; or chicken, cherries, avocado and walnuts.

Try this sweet frappe as a summer afternoon snack. Blend about 20 stoned cherries in the blender with ice and drizzle a little honey. You’ll boost your daily fibre and antioxidant levels.

Make simple salsa by chopping and combining stoned cherries, red onion, coriander and lemon or lime juice. The perfect compliment to grilled pork or chicken.

Indulge your sweet tooth with a healthy treat. Place chunks of sponge cake or jam sponge roll into a serving glass. Add some light custard and stoned, roughly chopped cherries. Sprinkle with grated dark chocolate and you’ll have a delicious dessert that will have everyone drooling!

Merry Christmas.

These tips are brought to you by the Australian Healthy Food Guide (January 2010 issue).