Crisp, delicious
and wholesome vegetables and fruit! I can almost hear the satisfying crunch of
an apple, the sweet taste of freshly picked berries, or feel the comforting
warmth that a bowl of homemade vegetable soup can bring. There are many health benefits of eating
vegetables and fruits daily. They are
not only delicious but very nutritious too! Think of vegetables and fruit as
sidekicks for good health. They contain powerful antioxidants that protect your
body from cell damage, help protect you from heart disease and cancers and
since they are typically lower in calories, help with weight maintenance too.
And yet, according
to Statistics Canada, only half of adults are getting the recommended seven to
ten vegetable and fruit servings a day for optimal health. During March,
Nutrition Month, dietitians all across Canada are debunking the myth that it’s hard to
eat all the vegetables and fruit recommended by Canada’s
Food Guide. It might sound like a lot, but it can quickly add up. So you might be wondering what a serving size
is: 1 piece of fruit, ½ cup of berries, ½ cup of juice, ¼ cup raisins or dried
fruit, 1 cup of dark leafy greens or ½ a potato.
Dietitians want to
help you embrace adding more vegetables and fruit in your diet! We know that once
you start eating more vegetables and fruit you will feel great. So here are our
top 3 tips for eating more vegetables and fruit:
·
Load
up your next sandwich up with sprouts, lettuce, cucumbers and tomato,
·
Throw
an apple or orange in your purse or bag or freeze half a cup of grapes for a
unique afternoon snack, or
·
Make
it your goal to fill half your plate with vegetables at lunch and dinner. Choose
fruit for dessert more often.
Our challenge:
This week during lunch and dinner make it your goal to fill half your plate
with bright coloured vegetables. We must
warn you that if you are up for the challenge side effects might include more
energy and feeling great! Take our challenge today and check us out on Facebook®
(http://www.facebook.com/AskaDietitianSK) to share your results for your chance to
win cool prizes. If you have food and nutrition questions you can also Ask-A-Dietitian
by calling 1-800-905-0970.
For more Nutrition
Month Myths and Facts visit www.dietitians.ca
Steph (Wheler) Langdon, RD
something nutrishus counselling & coaching
