The Key to Health: Eat more fruits and vegetables.
150 doctors researched 4,500 studies on what keeps us healthy. They found the only common denominator is a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
We all know we’re supposed to eat more fruits and vegetables, but most of us don’t get the recommended amount consistently. Taste preferences, prep time, availability, and cost contribute to less than 10% of the adult population in the U.S. getting the recommended 5-13 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
If you are part of the 90% that struggle with eating enough fruits and vegetables, you are not alone.
Here are six tips for getting more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet:
Eat fruits and vegetables for snacks. Carry them to work, school or gym in little containers so they don’t get smashed. Adding hummus to a snack of carrots or peppers adds a protein boost too.
Try different cooking methods. If your parents boiled vegetables to death, no wonder if you have an aversion to them! Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sugars. Stir-frying is also a quick prep method. Steaming keep veggies crisp and bright.
Don’t forget frozen. Flash frozen fruits and vegetables maintain their nutrient profile longer than fresh vegetables and won’t go bad in the fridge. Frozen produce is convenient and easy to keep on hand. This is super helpful if you live someplace where the growing season is short and fresh vegetables are hard to come by – or expensive – out of season.
Add veggies to scrambles, sandwiches, and smoothies.
Buy pre-packaged salads, stir-fry mixes, and pre-cut vegetables: if it saves you time and makes it easier for you to get the recommended number of servings, it is a win.
After doing the research and cost analysis, it just makes sense to focus on fruits and vegetables for a healthy lifestyle, rather than micromanaging vitamins and supplements. Supplements are full of hidden risks, expensive, and take up valuable cabinet space.
If you’re looking to make one simple change, focus on fruits and vegetables.
Comment below and let me know what you do to get enough fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. And as always, feel free to reach out if you have questions about health, wellness, and nutrition. I offer 30-minute free Midlife Fitness and Nutrition Action Planning Sessions, which you can schedule here.
