The health benefits of fruits and vegetables are numerous. Fruits and veggies are packed with vitamins, minerals, phytochemical and antioxidants--disease fighting agents that will help protect your health!
Often, it is challenging the meet the recommended serving size of fruits and vegetables. Experts recommend 8-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. This number may sound high, especially if produce is not usually on the daily meal plan. Here are some tips to help add more fruits/vegetables into your daily routine.
- Increase your intake gradually. If you don't eat fruits or vegetables, make it a goal to add 1-2 servings of fruit or vegetables per day. If you are already doing this, increase your intake to 3-4 servings of fruits and vegetable per day.
- Choose fruits and vegetables for side dishes at all meals. Look for frozen vegetables that are sold in microwavable bags-this makes for quick and easy preparation.
- Buy vegetables that require minimal preparation. Choose pre washed carrots, pre washed lettuce, or grape tomatoes.
- Base your meals around vegetables. For example, try vegetable stir fry with chicken on the side, chef’s salad with grilled chicken or vegetable wraps.
- Incorporate vegetables into snacks-try hummus with carrot sticks or apple slices with peanut butter.
- Fortify your main dishes with vegetables. Add several spoonful’s of canned vegetables to your next soup. Or incorporate frozen spinach to your next lasagna dish.
Consider Lifestyle Changes
- Eat healthy while on vacation! Choose one splurge meal a day and try to eat relatively healthy the rest of the time.
- Reconsider your snack choices. Here's some healthy summer snack tips.
- Watch the ingredients you cook with. Often, sugar and fat can be replace with applesauce or an applesauce substitute.
- Make a game plan and stick to it. Here's tips on keeping your resolution!
Favorite Healthy Foods
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