You've got to have something sweet this holiday season, right? Well, go for it, then. You might just want to redefine "sweet" if you choose to fit into your skinny jeans this December.

Try some festive snacks like dried fruits and nuts, say the experts at the American Cancer Society -- they happen to believe diet plays an integral role in cancer prevention, you know. Fresh fruit is another great choice.

If sweets aren't your thing but seasonal indulgence is, try some live herbs or olive oil to spice up your nutritional meals. And consider giving all of the above as gifts this year. Nothing says you care like a package of healthy food.

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One of the best parts about summer is all the fresh fruit that comes into season -- not only does it taste so much better when it didn't have to get shipped across the world but freshly ripened fruit is also full of much more in the way of nutrients, enzymes, and other health benefits. And although pretty much all fruits are good for you in one way or another, here are a few you'll want to make sure you incorporate as much as possible into your summer diet:

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I love this time of year. When my local produce stores start carrying fruits and vegetables that aren't labeled "product of some outlandishly far away country." Locally grown products are fresher, better for the environment, and even seem to taste better. Depending on where you live, many berries may be already in season. Strawberry season is just around the corner for me, and I can't wait! Berries pack a powerful nutritional punch (via FitSugar).

Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. They can help ward off certain diseases and may even slow the aging process. You can mix things up by looking for different tastes such as currants, gooseberries, and lingonberries.

Try topping your morning cereal or oatmeal with berries, enjoying a bowl of berries with some skim milk, mixing them in your yogurt, topping a small slice of angel food cake, or just popping them as they are. Your health -- and taste buds -- will thank you.

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There has been so much good press lately regarding the health benefits of fresh fruit, especially fresh raspberries and blueberries, that more and more shoppers are putting fruit on the weekly grocery list. Credited with helping in the fight against one of the biggest illnesses in this country, cancer, it's no wonder fresh fruit is getting so popular. So that's great and all, but there is a downside to this sudden interest in the produce aisle: prices are skyrocketing. Berries are flying by air, floating by sea, and traveling by truck from all over the world in an attempt to meet the drastically rising demand.

Of course it's never a good thing when prices at the grocery store go up, especially when it's related to something in the "health food" category. But hopefully people won't get too discouraged -- spending a few extra bucks on fresh fruit is so much better for you than blowing it on a big bag of Doritos.

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The pomegranate is, for all the good press it's received lately, still amazingly unknown and obscure. I think by now most people have at least heard of the pomegranate, although many still probably have no idea what one looks like. Well if you fall into that crowd you might want to make a change, because in addition to all the health benefits most fruits and veggies give, pomegranate juice has also been shown to have a positive impact on both prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

I've actually never had a pomegranate, so in the spirit of trying new things (and being healthy in the process) I found this group of pomegranate recipes -- I'll be trying the pomegranate yogurt dip first I think.

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Being a fan of whole-grain breakfast cereals is a great way to set up your day for being a healthy and productive one (just my 2 cents). If you can choose a whole-grain cereal that isn't lavished with refined sugar and other sweeteners, you've just come across a great selection for that busy-morning breakfast.

Whole-grain cereals may not have the sweet taste that sugared cereals have, but there are much better ways to get that sweet taste. Try adding fresh blueberries, strawberries, bananas and raspberries to that bowl.

While we're all in a hurry in the morning, pouring a bowl of cereal and adding some fresh fruit does not seem like a stretch of time for most -- and it isn't. Your body will thank you for such a wholesome breakfast.

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There are always good news when it comes to eating plenty of fruits and vegetables every day. In addition to the varied nutrients and vitamins fresh (and frozen) fruits provide, fruits are way (way) better to eat than processed, pre-packaged foods that many of us consume daily.

A new study corroborates the need to keep eating those fruits, as it concluded that eating lots of fruit and little meat may help prevent precancerous colon polyps.

It should come as no surprise that eating a healthy dose of fruit every day helps the body fight off cancer nastiness among many other ailments. Are you eating enough fruit every day? My preferred method when I don't have time to mix a smoothie is Naked Juice.

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Although everybody already knows it's important to wash all fruits and vegetables before you eat or cook with them, it is more important for some than others. The Environmental Working Group has recently published its fourth edition of The Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. The guide ranks 43 common fruits and vegetables, from most pesticides present to least, based on testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Whether you're interested in possibly avoiding some of the higher ranked foods, or just want to be a more informed consumer, the handy pocket-sized guide might be worth a look.

Which fruits and veggies are the worst? The top twelve, called the "Dirty Dozen," includes peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes. Of course, all my favorites! I'll just have to make sure I wash them extra thoroughly.

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As a blogger for That's Fit, I sift through lots of information on food, food safety, nutritional value etc. It's pretty rare for me to come across something that I haven't read or heard before, but some of the food facts in this surprised me. For instance, I did not know that cooked tomatoes have more cancer-fighting agents than raw tomatoes. And I didn't know that figs are high in calcium. I also didn't know that frozen fruit can be better for you than fresh. These are things that are handy to know, whether you're a writer or not.

Do you know of any other food facts that might be surprising?

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