We all know that eating healthy and maintaining a balanced diet is good for us, but are we really eating enough fruits and veggies? Probably not. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans says that adults should eat 1.5-2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables per day, including a variety of vegetables from all sub groups (starchy, dark greens, red and orange, beans and peas, as well as whole fruits).
Not reaching their standards? Don’t worry; you’re not the only one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that only 12.2 percent of American adults are eating enough fruit and only 9.3 percent are eating the recommended amount of vegetables. It’s important that as we go into the new year, we all work together to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into our diet. Here are some easy ways to up your intake without compromising too much:
- Add vegetables to your pizza toppings, such as broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini.
- Sweeten your breakfast by blending low-fat milk, strawberries, and a banana into a smoothie.
- Make your salads colorful by adding whatever fruits and veggies you can find. We recommend baby carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves, apples, or mandarin oranges.
- Keep cut vegetables on hand for snacks, side dishes, and lunch box additions. Any color pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, carrots, cucumbers, and snap peas are all easy to cut up for on-the-go nutrition.
Increasing your fruit and vegetable intake can be easily and delicious– don’t be afraid! Click here to read more tips from The Ohio State University.More From: The Ohio State University
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