Eating a color-rich diet can be deliciously good for you. Mother Nature makes it easy to pick some of the most nutritious foods just by looking at their colorful exteriors.

In fact, the rich hues of many "super fruits" — fruits that are exceptionally rich in nutrients, loaded with antioxidants and offer many potential protective health benefits — are a color cue to their health-promoting qualities.

One of today's hottest super fruits is the tart cherry. Science suggests the pigments that make up cherries' vibrant red color are anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation and risk factors for heart disease.

Cherries are also one of the few known, researched food sources of the antioxidant melatonin, which can help aid with sleep and jet lag.

Cherries are available year round as dried and frozen cherries and cherry juice, so it's easy to include them in your daily diet, from topping your morning cereal, creating your own on-the-go snack mix, topping a salad or a cherry-delicious smoothie.

According to registered dietitian Dr. Wendy Bazilian, author of "The SuperFoods Rx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients," cherries really are a red hot super fruit. "I love using and recommending cherries because they deliver a delicious balance of sweet and tart flavors, eye-popping red color taste and a powerful antioxidant punch."

Delicious ideas

Here are some easy and tasty ways to enjoy the benefits of cherries every day:

n Make It a Red Hot Morning — Use dried cherries on cereal, oatmeal, or pancakes. Or create your own yogurt parfait with low fat yogurt and mixed berries.

• Drink Red — Grab a single-serve bottle of one hundred percent cherry, cranberry or pomegranate juice, or fill a water bottle with diluted juice concentrate before heading to the gym. Research suggests cherry juice may help reduce exercise-related joint pain.

• Enjoy Super Fruits On-the-Go — Create an antioxidant-rich trail mix using dried cherries, raisins, nuts and seeds. Add dark chocolate bits for an extra indulgence (and antioxidant boost). Pack it in your purse or briefcase for a mid-day or post-workout snack.