The Importance of Fruits and Vegetables

Did you know there are at least four great reasons to eat more fruits
and vegetables?

1) It is easy to do.

2) Almost all are low in calories and fat.

3) They are a good source of vitamins and minerals and provide fiber.

4) They may help reduce cancer risk.

Here are some actions to get you started and keep you going. Try two
or three actions now and try more later.

Buy many kinds of fruits and vegetables when you shop, so you have
plenty of choices, and you don't run out.

Use the salad bar to buy cut-up fruits/vegetables if you're in a
hurry.

Pack a piece of fruit or some cut-up vegetables in your briefcase
or backpack; carry moist towelettes for easy cleanup.

Keep a bowl of cut-up vegetables on the top shelf of the
refrigerator.

Add fruit to breakfast by or by having it on your cereal.

Add fruits and vegetables to lunch by having them in soup, salad,
or cut-up raw.

Add vegetables to dinner by steaming them.

Increase portions when you serve vegetables and fruits. Season
them the low-fat way with herbs, spices, and lemon juice. If sauce
is used, choose a nonfat or low-fat sauce.

Choose fruit for dessert. For a special dessert, try a fruit
parfait with low-fat yogurt or sherbet topped with berries.

Add extra varieties of vegetables when you prepare soups, sauces,
and casseroles (for example, grate carrot and zucchini into
spaghetti sauce.
______________________________

______________