2008 Woodie Awards
Are You in the Fruit and Vegetable Loop?
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Commentary
If you know that fruit and vegetables are good for you, why aren't you eating enough?
Is money a problem? You don't cook or like grocery shopping? You never plan ahead? You don't really care what you eat? You don't know how to eat more vegetables or fruit? Fruits and vegetables don't appeal to you or you think they are boring?
The recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables for a typical college student is a minimum of 9 servings (4.5 cups). To find your personal recommendations go to MyPyramid.gov. Nine servings may sound like a lot, but here are some great tips to help you eat more:
• Snack on vegetables - carrots, peppers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes or cucumbers.
• Take fruit and vegetables along - apples, bananas, pears, grapes, oranges, kiwi, berries, and baby carrots.
• Have a bowl of fresh or dried fruit on your desk or counter.
• Add fresh, frozen or dried fruit to your cereal - blueberries, dried cranberries, peaches, and bananas.
• Make fruit smoothies for breakfast or snack; include berries, kiwi, mango, bananas, or frozen mixed fruit. (For recipes go to http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Drinks/Smoothies/Main.aspx).
• Keep ready-to-eat vegetables in the most visible spot in your refrigerator.
• For dessert have yogurt with fruit (banana, blueberries, frozen cherries, raisins) and nuts.
• Add vegetables to your soups, pasta, casseroles and omelets (great recipes for students available at http://www.unh.edu/health-services/good_eats/index.html).
• Drink a 100% fruit juice or vegetable juice.
• Stock up on frozen vegetables to add to a dish, pizza, soup or to eat alone.
• Make a point to cook or try a new vegetable or fruit as often as you can.
• Freeze fruit (bananas, cut up pears, grapes) you aren't able to use and enjoy them frozen.
• Snack on fruits and vegetables when preparing your dinner.
• Dip your vegetables in hummus.
• Try sliced oranges with pomegranates.
• Try baked pineapple rings or apples sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Satisfy your craving for something sweet with canned or dried fruit.
• Cover half of your plate with fruits and vegetables.
• Eat a fruit and/or vegetables every time you eat (meal or snack).
Fruits and vegetables are sensational. You can taste them, see them, feel them, smell them, hear them, and most of all, enjoy them. So what are you waiting for? Join the fruit and vegetable loop and eat up!
Additional resources:
Recipes:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnparecipe/recipesearch.aspx
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/html/recipes.html
For additional information on fruits and vegetables and recipes, check out this link on the UNH Health Services website: http://www.unh.edu/health-services/fruits-veggies/index.html
Is money a problem? You don't cook or like grocery shopping? You never plan ahead? You don't really care what you eat? You don't know how to eat more vegetables or fruit? Fruits and vegetables don't appeal to you or you think they are boring?
The recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables for a typical college student is a minimum of 9 servings (4.5 cups). To find your personal recommendations go to MyPyramid.gov. Nine servings may sound like a lot, but here are some great tips to help you eat more:
• Snack on vegetables - carrots, peppers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes or cucumbers.
• Take fruit and vegetables along - apples, bananas, pears, grapes, oranges, kiwi, berries, and baby carrots.
• Have a bowl of fresh or dried fruit on your desk or counter.
• Add fresh, frozen or dried fruit to your cereal - blueberries, dried cranberries, peaches, and bananas.
• Make fruit smoothies for breakfast or snack; include berries, kiwi, mango, bananas, or frozen mixed fruit. (For recipes go to http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Drinks/Smoothies/Main.aspx).
• Keep ready-to-eat vegetables in the most visible spot in your refrigerator.
• For dessert have yogurt with fruit (banana, blueberries, frozen cherries, raisins) and nuts.
• Add vegetables to your soups, pasta, casseroles and omelets (great recipes for students available at http://www.unh.edu/health-services/good_eats/index.html).
• Drink a 100% fruit juice or vegetable juice.
• Stock up on frozen vegetables to add to a dish, pizza, soup or to eat alone.
• Make a point to cook or try a new vegetable or fruit as often as you can.
• Freeze fruit (bananas, cut up pears, grapes) you aren't able to use and enjoy them frozen.
• Snack on fruits and vegetables when preparing your dinner.
• Dip your vegetables in hummus.
• Try sliced oranges with pomegranates.
• Try baked pineapple rings or apples sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Satisfy your craving for something sweet with canned or dried fruit.
• Cover half of your plate with fruits and vegetables.
• Eat a fruit and/or vegetables every time you eat (meal or snack).
Fruits and vegetables are sensational. You can taste them, see them, feel them, smell them, hear them, and most of all, enjoy them. So what are you waiting for? Join the fruit and vegetable loop and eat up!
Additional resources:
Recipes:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnparecipe/recipesearch.aspx
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/html/recipes.html
For additional information on fruits and vegetables and recipes, check out this link on the UNH Health Services website: http://www.unh.edu/health-services/fruits-veggies/index.html
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jill LeBrasseur
posted 3/26/08 @ 9:49 AM EST
If you need more help adding extra fruit and vegetables to your diet check out www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org! This website offers tips for adding more produce to your diet along with nutritional information and some great recipes. (Continued…)
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