Make half your plate fruits and veggies—it’s easy to follow MyPlate guidelines when you include USA Pears in your meals! The MyPlate logo suggests that Americans fill half the plate with fruits and veggies at every meal. It’s easy to eat more produce whether you’re sitting down to a family dinner or taking your meal on the go. Pears can be added to quesadillas, smoothies, lunchboxes, and soups—think outside the plate!
With 24% of the Daily Value of fiber and 10% of the Daily Value of vitamin C, pears are a smart choice. Not only do pears add a boost of nutrition to your favorite meals and recipes, they’re also versatile and available nearly year-round.
Here are some fresh ideas to get you started:
Filled with crisp greens, grilled chicken, sweet pears, and tangy goat cheese, this sandwich packs a lot of flavor in a pita pocket. See Recipe >
This hearty recipe includes lots of seasonal produce and wild rice for a nutrient-filled lunch or dinner. Serve with a glass of milk or top with cheese to make your meal complete! See Recipe >
This gluten-free meal option pairs creamy soup with flavorful homemade crackers – a spread perfect for any chilly night. Top the crackers with pear butter for a sweet finish. See Recipe >
Start your next gathering off right with these tasty tostadas. Filled with veggies, herbs, and USA Pears, these healthy starters are sure to keep your guests coming back for more! See Recipe >
Served with a tall glass of milk, these kid-friendly snacks will keep you family energized throughout the busy week. Pack them in lunchboxes or bring them to sporting events to share with the team post-game! See Recipe >
This whole-grain salad recipe uses plenty of bright, fresh ingredients for hits of flavor and texture, from the crunch of the farro to the juicy sweetness of the fresh pears.
See Recipe >
Firm-ripe USA Pears, sweet onion, ground turkey, and fresh thyme come together to make a quick and easy dinner. Creamy goat cheese and more pear slices top these fresh and light turkey burgers for a nice change of pace from a traditional beef burger.
See Recipe >
The sweet pear, salty sausage, wine and cream are a wonderful combination in this dish. It tastes just like something you’d get at a great restaurant.
See Recipe >
Chicken, pear and avocado pair together to create a beautiful and satisfying meal or snack.
See Recipe >
Check out our entire recipe library to find more MyPlate-friendly meal ideas!
Try these quick tips to make it pear-fectly easy to follow the MyPlate recommendations of making half your plate fruits and vegetables:
- Mix diced pears into oatmeal or a bowl of cereal
- Glaze pear slices in butter and maple syrup and serve over whole-grain pancakes or waffles
- Slide pear pieces onto skewers with other fresh fruits for a fun snack
- Top grilled pork or chicken with pear puree
- Slide pear slices into sandwiches, quesadillas, or paninis
- Sprinkle pear pieces into homemade salsas and chutneys
- Combine (or replace) apples with pears in a pie filling or sauce
- Poach pears with vanilla bean and cinnamon for dessert
- Eat fresh pear slices with yogurt or nut butters for dipping
- Create side dishes with different combinations of your favorite whole grains, chopped nuts, crumbled cheese and diced pears
- When trying to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables, don’t forget to count the pears you use in your recipes