I've always consider fruit to be something taken as a dessert or snack. That's what my mom taught me and that's what I learned in school. This morning, a dietician was the guest on a morning show I listen to, and she said fruits are best taken as a starter. I can't rephrase her scientific explanation, but it came down to the fact that the fruits properties prepare the alimentary canal to break down food better. So food is metabolizes better by the body if you eat your fruit just before the meal.

That is what I've heard somewhere as well. Something to do with fruit being so quickly broken down by the body, so if you have it for desert then it gets broken down but stuck behind the slower-digesting foods from the main meal and ferments, causing acid and gas. I've also heard before that fruits should be eaten on their own and not combined with any other foods, but I often do eat it with other foods!

Only way I'll eat fruit is if its got yoghurt on I don't eat much of it either!

On a hot blazing day I can even eat fruit as the main course. I do, however, normally take my fruit as dessert; I had no idea it had special digestive properties.

I didn't know any of this either. I would bet that different fruits, depending on the acidity levels, and the amounts of fiber and sugar would need to be considered.

Interesting topic. Makes me want to find out more about it.