Get Your Five Per Day Easily
We know we need to eat more fruits and vegetables for optimum health and to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and obesity. Though it sounds easy, data shows that most people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. Most people only eat two servings of fruits and vegetables each day even though they should eat at least five. Here’s a tip – fruits and vegetables can be canned, dried, fresh, frozen, juiced, and liquidized to count towards your five a day.
Try an omelet for breakfast filled with peppers, muchrooms, salsa, or spinach. If you like bagels, top one with fruit or a tomato slice. Apples, oranges, grapefruits, and bananas all make easy additions to breakfast. If you eat cereal or pancakes, top these with fresh fruit as well.
For lunch, tuck some cucumber slices, lettuce, onion, or tomatoes into your sandwich. For suppers, consider replacing white potatoes with sweet potatoes for a nutritional punch. Remember that bags of frozen fruits and vegetables make easy additions to your meals.
For snacking, reach for raw fruits and vegetables.
Baby carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber spears, or red pepper strips dipped in hummus or salad dressing are a great snack. Try grapes or raisins or a banana for a snack. Eating dried fruits like apricots, cherries, cranberries, dates, and figs will satisfy any munchie craving.
Keep fruits and vegetables visible and easily accessible. Keep a fruit bowl full of fresh and washed fruits on the kitchen counter for your family to have easy access to fruits.
Start with a salad when eating out. Substitute vegetables for fries. When at a buffet make a big salad before you eat anything else.
Don’t forget the best treat of all – smoothies! These are easily made with a wide variety of frozen fruit and milk or yogurt. Kids love these at any time of the day and they are a powerhouse of nutrients.
When you start your day thinking about how you can add fruits and vegetables into your daily routine, you will surely succeed and you will reap many positive health benefits.
