I’m Taki Lockman, the writer behind Fruit and Garden, based in Danville, California (USA). This site is my personal space for making fruit information easier to understand and more useful in daily life—without the noise, hype, or confusing nutrition jargon.
Fruit shows up everywhere: breakfast bowls, smoothies, salads, snacks, desserts, hydration routines, and even sports nutrition. But when people search online, they often land on advice that’s either too vague (“fruits are healthy”) or too extreme (“never eat fruit because sugar”). Fruit and Garden exists to sit in the middle: clear facts, practical context, and realistic takeaways you can use.
What Fruit and Garden is about
At its core, Fruit and Garden is a fruit information blog focused on:
- Nutrition facts: calories, carbs, fiber, sugar, protein, fat
- Vitamins & minerals: what a fruit contains, why it matters, and what it doesn’t do
- Potential health benefits: what research suggests, and what is still uncertain
- Safety notes: allergies, digestive issues, medication interactions, and special situations
- Everyday use: how people typically eat fruit, store it, and combine it with meals
I publish fruit guides that aim to answer the questions people actually type into Google—things like “Is X fruit good for you?”, “How many calories are in…?”, “Can pets eat…?”, or “Is this safe during pregnancy?”—and then add the missing context that makes the answer meaningful.
My approach: practical + careful (especially for YMYL topics)
Nutrition content falls into YMYL (Your Money or Your Life), which means it can affect health decisions. Because of that, I follow a simple rule:
Be helpful, but don’t pretend to be your doctor.
You’ll see that Fruit and Garden emphasizes:
- Plain-language explanations instead of buzzwords
- Reasonable comparisons (portions matter more than fear)
- Context (your goals, your health conditions, your diet pattern)
- Safety boundaries (who should be cautious and why)
I aim to summarize information accurately and responsibly, especially on topics like blood sugar, blood pressure, pregnancy, kidney health, medication interactions, and pet safety.
What you can expect from my fruit guides
1) Clear numbers, not vague claims
When readers want to know calories, sugar, or fiber, they want a straight answer. Fruit and Garden emphasizes simple facts first, then interpretation second.
2) Benefits explained without exaggeration
Some fruit benefits are well-supported (like fiber supporting digestion), while others are more “promising but not guaranteed.” I try to separate:
- what’s likely,
- what’s possible,
- and what’s marketing.
3) Safety notes people forget to mention
Many fruit articles ignore the important “edge cases,” such as:
- allergies and sensitivities
- digestive tolerance (FODMAP issues, acidity, diarrhea/constipation patterns)
- medication interactions (especially for people taking chronic meds)
- pregnancy and breastfeeding considerations
- pet safety (dogs, cats, birds, and common household animals)
These are the details that often matter most.
4) Everyday choices and realistic guidance
Most people aren’t building perfect meal plans—they’re deciding what to eat today. I try to make content useful for normal routines: snacks, lunchboxes, quick grocery decisions, and simple swaps.
Why I started Fruit and Garden
I built Fruit and Garden because I noticed a repeating problem: people either overthink fruit or underthink fruit.
- Overthinking leads to fear of sugar and extreme restriction.
- Underthinking leads to “fruit = always healthy” even when someone needs to consider portions, medication, digestive tolerance, or allergies.
The best place is usually in the middle: fruit is a strong food choice for most people, but it’s still food—portions and context matter.
My focus areas
Here are the topics I spend the most time on:
- Fruit nutrition profiles (what’s actually inside each fruit)
- Calories & macros (for everyday planning)
- Fiber and digestion (one of the most misunderstood benefits)
- Sugar vs. whole fruit (why fruit isn’t the same as candy)
- Heart-health patterns (fruit as part of a dietary pattern, not a magic ingredient)
- Food safety and “who should be careful” sections
- Pet safety (what’s safe, what’s risky, and why)
A note on credibility and sources
When I write, I prioritize widely accepted nutrition and medical references, public health resources, and reputable organizations. I also avoid “miracle language.” If a claim sounds too good to be true, it usually needs better evidence.
Medical disclaimer (YMYL): This site is for education only and not medical advice. For personal guidance—especially if you’re pregnant, have a medical condition, take medication, or manage allergies—consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian.
Connect & explore
If you’re new here, the easiest way to start is:
- browse the latest fruit guides on the homepage, or
- explore by fruit categories if you prefer learning fruit-by-fruit.
Thanks for reading—and welcome to Fruit and Garden.