Dates! Who knew?

[lauraelmore1033]

I just found out from WW that dates are a 0 point food. They are stinkin' delicious! I just had two dates as a snack and I swear I am purring. So satisfying! Of course, they have the same number of carbs as 2 pieces of bread (or a banana) so you have to watch it, but, Dang! Yum!

[indysteel]

I love dates, too. In answering another question on TE about low glycemic food choices and Larabars, which use dates as a sweetener, I did a bit of research and discovered that dates are high on the glycemic food index. So, while they may be zero points according to WW, there are other fruits--like bananas--and vegetable choices that might be better in terms of avoiding a spike in blood sugar.

But if they're in lieu of something like a cookie, then have at it! :p

[7rider]

A friend of mine carries a baggie with dates - soaked in rose water - on rides. My DH is so into dates, that for a while, that's all he'd buy "fruit-wise" for the house. I ate so many dates last summer that I can't stomach the thought of another one for a loooong time! :(

[GLC1968]

I've never had a fresh date...what do they taste like? I might have to seek some out!

(you do realize that dried dates are not zero points, right?...just checking!)

[OakLeaf]

I don't remember what variety they were, but I've had "fresh" (and I do mean the quotations ;)) dates once. They tasted quite a bit like apples, to me.

[GLC1968]

I don't remember what variety they were, but I've had "fresh" (and I do mean the quotations ;)) dates once. They tasted quite a bit like apples, to me.


Yeah, I just did a google search and saw an article in the LA area referring to them as firm and crunchy...sounds apple-like to me!

[OakLeaf]

I'm pretty sure I got them at an Asian grocery - might be the place to look, if you were interested.

[lauraelmore1033]

Hmm, mine was definitely not crunchy. Was soft and caramelly. Well darn. Probably good ride food though. Better than bars anyway...

[maillotpois]

Yeah I think the zero point is for fresh dates and the ones you usually get (the carmelly ones) are considered dried dates, and thus, not zero points. Sorry.

I have never seen fresh dates - will need to look for them.

[lauraelmore1033]

The package says California medjool dates and I bought it in the produce section. Doesn't say anything about "dried" or "fresh", but those are probably the 3 point dates. Ah well. Still a pretty good snack...

[OakLeaf]

Fresh dates look something like this http://www.dreamstime.com/fresh-dates-thumb16975156.jpg, dried dates are brown and somewhat wrinkly and have a very sugary skin.

[maillotpois]

Dried dates are like candy. And if you stuff a walnut half in there, it makes an awesome on the go snack - worth every point!

[lauraelmore1033]

yeah, if I'm in the mood for somethin' appley, I'll just eat an apple...:D

[emily_in_nc]

Downside of dried dates (which are totally delicious): very sugary and stick to your teeth. If you eat them on the bike, make sure to rinse your mouth with plenty of water afterwards to avoid dental issues.

[Crankin]

I used to be addicted to date shakes. Fresh dates in a vanilla based shake, which I used to get at the farm stands on Baseline Rd. in South Phoenix and Tempe. Like several times a week, on my way home from work.
Don't know if the dates are still there, most of the farms are gone.
Oy, I sound like my grandfather: Remember when...?

[marni]

something else to consider is that if you worry about estrogen related cancers, is that you should be avoiding sugar as much as possible, so fresh dates would be preferable to dried ditto for most fruits, plus there is the extra fiber, minerals, and mositure in fresh fruit.

just a thought. I have the same problem with figs- but the fresh, if you can get the are delicious and sensuous, just have to keep my quantities extremely limited.

[Susan]

I once bought fresh dates in a turkish grocery. They were very crunchy and had a mouth-feel similar to green bananas.
I thought that maybe I didn't know something about them, that they would need to be dried or cooked or anything, because they weren't delicious at all but reading your comments thats maybe the way they are supposed to taste :p

[lauraelmore1033]

I once bought fresh dates in a turkish grocery. They were very crunchy and had a mouth-feel similar to green bananas.
I thought that maybe I didn't know something about them, that they would need to be dried or cooked or anything, because they weren't delicious at all but reading your comments thats maybe the way they are supposed to taste :p

Yeah, I had no idea they came any other way (than the brown shriveled things you look at in the produce department and pass over) Mouth fee similar to green bananas--No thanks.

[OakLeaf]

the brown shriveled things you look at in the produce department and pass over

Pass over? Pass over?! It's a struggle for me not to buy and eat every dried date I see. :p




And - if figs are any comparison - then by all means, if you're in the PNW, eat a freakin' apple, but if dates are grown near you and brought fresh and ripe to the market, try some and get back to us! :D Grocery store fresh figs in the north are just plain nasty, and I totally love fresh figs when I'm in California or Florida in the late summer. Once in a while I'll make an exception to local and seasonal to try something exotic, and I nearly always regret it.

[badger]

I would take a medjool date out of a child's hand. They are pure decadence and little angels dance on my tongue when I eat them.

[lauraelmore1033]

Pass over? Pass over?! It's a struggle for me not to buy and eat every dried date I see. :p

And - if figs are any comparison - then by all means, if you're in the PNW, eat a freakin' apple, but if dates are grown near you and brought fresh and ripe to the market, try some and get back to us! :D Grocery store fresh figs in the north are just plain nasty, and I totally love fresh figs when I'm in California or Florida in the late summer. Once in a while I'll make an exception to local and seasonal to try something exotic, and I nearly always regret it.

Well, I just never had dates growing up. They just don't LOOK like something that would be so devistatingly delicious.
I will get back to you if I ever try a fresh date.

[GLC1968]

Oh yeah...fresh figs are incredible. I'd never had one until we moved here and WOW...unbelievable! In season, ripe off the tree...they kind of remind me of strawberries but with a different flavor. Hard to explain but worth the wait to get them in season!

In fact, around here, some fig trees will fruit twice a year (mild enough climate) if there is enough sun.

But yeah, I don't think fresh dates are going to be very prevalent in the PNW.

[badger]

*drool* I LOVE fresh figs, especially the big, black kind. My grandparents had a fig tree in the back and I would eat them off the tree - SO yummy!

It never seems to get hot enough to ripen the figs here in Vancouver.

[shootingstar]

I love fresh figs. I've made a dessert focaccia by embedding cut halves of fresh figs, with grated ginger root, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey drizzle and abit of grated lemon rind with juice.

It's lovely. :D

[lauraelmore1033]

I love fresh figs. I've made a dessert focaccia by embedding cut halves of fresh figs, with grated ginger root, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey drizzle and abit of grated lemon rind with juice.

It's lovely. :D

that sounds very tasty

[Catrin]

I've never even SEEN fresh figs or dates before, let alone eaten them. I doubt that I can find them in central Indiana, but will keep my eye out at a couple of stores that stocks a wider variety of fruit than the norm. I love the dried figs that are available, so fresh has got to be very good. I don't care for what dates I've tried before - but of course they weren't fresh but the usual kind you find in the store.

[OakLeaf]

Unless you can get a lot better figs in Indiana than you can in Ohio, I'd pass. It's just like anything else. You know what happens if you buy blueberries from South America in December. They're mushy and tasteless and a huge disappointment when you know what they're supposed to taste like. It's the same thing with figs. :( Most likely with dates, too, though I don't know what a "real" fresh date tastes like.

Maybe you're lucky and can find a local grower at your farmer's market. There are actually a few fig varieties that can be grown in our climate, with some extra care in the winter time, but it's way too much work to grow them commercially in any quantity.

[Catrin]

Maybe you're lucky and can find a local grower at your farmer's market. There are actually a few fig varieties that can be grown in our climate, with some extra care in the winter time, but it's way too much work to grow them commercially in any quantity.

This is a good idea, I will do that. There are a couple of local farmer's market locations I visit - though far less frequently than I should.

[MrsOski]

my fave date "recipe": when craving cheesecake, stuff one dried date with about a tbsp of cream cheese or goat cheese. eat. restrain from eating another, if you can. I usually can't. lol

[lauraelmore1033]

Yes, I've noticed that dates go very well with cheese; A mini babybel and a date, maybe two, and I'm one contented kitty. Purrr, purrr...

BTW, i've lost 15 pounds now on WW since I started after Christmas (almost 20 in all!) so I think it's a safe indulgence:cool:

[Desert Tortoise]

Besides price (+$3 to $4/lb), what is the difference between Medjool dates and the smaller dates?

(I've looked for a name on the smaller ones but doesn't say a type like the Medjools)

Thanks,
dt

[OakLeaf]

Most of the smaller ones you see in the stores are deglet noor.

From Wikipedia (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Phoenix_dactylifera):


Three main cultivar groups of date exist: soft (e.g. 'Barhee', 'Halawy', 'Khadrawy', 'Medjool'), semi-dry (e.g. 'Dayri', 'Deglet Noor', 'Zahidi'), and dry (e.g. 'Thoory'). The type of fruit depends on the glucose, fructose and sucrose content....Most commercial plantations thus use cuttings of heavily cropping cultivars, mainly 'Medjool' as this cultivar produces particularly high yields of large, sweet fruit.

I've got to go to the store this afternoon anyway ... now I've got dates in my head and won't be able to leave without any. ;)

[Desert Tortoise]

Thanks! Wow, if the smaller ones are considered semi-dry, the Medjool must be like syrup. Now I'm going to have to try the Medjool.

dt

[Catrin]

I've never tried dates. not really. I didn't like them when they were included in other things. Perhaps I need to give them a chance again :)

[ultraviolet]

I have a few dates left over from a dinner gathering last week. They've been sitting in a Ziplock in my fridge while I thought of what to do with them. This morning, I chopped one up and put it in my plain Fage yogurt...it was yum. I think I've found my breakfasts for the rest of the week. :D