Tips for Eating More Fruits and Vegetables

Tips for Eating More Fruits and Vegetables

Use these fun, easy tips to make sure that you get your 5 to 9 a day, every day!

Breakfast

• Add frozen or fresh vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or tomatoes to your eggs and omelettes.
• Have a fruit at breakfast daily.
• Add strawberries, blueberries, bananas and other brightly colored fruits-fresh, frozen, or canned-to your waffles, pancakes, cereal, oatmeal, or toast.
• Mix one large chopped apple with a pound of lean ground turkey or chicken. Season with sage and rosemary and flatten into healthy breakfast sausage patties.

Lunch & Dinner

• Include a serving of fruit in every lunch for your children. If they buy lunch, ask them about their favorite fruits or vegetables to eat at school.
• Dip slices of sweet potatoes in a mixture of egg substitute and nutmeg and bake on a lightly greased pan in a 425° oven for 20 min for tasty sweet potato fries.
• Microwave vegetables for an easy side dish dinner.
• Try a black bean, corn, and bell pepper salad seasoned with cilantro and balsamic vinegar.
• Stir-fry fresh or frozen vegetables like squash, peppers, and mushrooms, with lean meat or poultry. Try adding bean sprouts and water chestnuts and spice it up for the Asian flair!
• Pile spinach leaves, tomatoes, peppers, and onions on your pizza.
• Toss a handful of beans or crunchy sprouts on your salad. Or, if you have a sweet tooth, add chopped apples, raisins, or craisins.
• Try veggie instead of meat lasagna.
• Add frozen broccoli, green beans, corn or peas to a casserole or pasta.
• Soup's on! You can stick with the basics like tomato or vegetable soup or mix up some minestrone or veggie chili to cut winter's chill.
• Add lettuce, tomato, onion, sprouts, cucumber, etc. to sandwiches.
• Save time with prewashed salad in a bag.
• Order salads, vegetable soups, or stir fried vegetables when eating out.
• Choose beans, coleslaw, corn on the cob, or a side salad instead of french fries.
• Serve pasta primavera.

Snacks

• Keep a bowl of fruit on your desk or counter.
• Snack on raw veggies like baby carrots, pepper strips, broccoli, and celery.
• Try baked tortilla chips with black bean and corn salsa.
• Stash bags of dried fruit in your car and at your desk for a convenient snack.
• Try hummus and whole wheat pitas.
• Drink a frozen fruit smoothie made with whole fruit, ice cubes and skim milk.
• Make fruits and vegetables visible in your home by having fresh fruit out on the tables or countertops.

Desserts

• Top a cup of fruit-flavored yogurt with fresh sliced fruit.
• Cantaloupe and watermelon balls with chopped crystallized ginger in syrup.
• Baked apples or pears for a healthy but sweet treat.
• Sliced strawberries and raspberries sprinkled with balsamic vinegar and powdered sugar.
• Whip up smoothies made from fresh or frozen berries, ice, and yogurt.

Other Tips

• Stock up on dried, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables.
• Pick up ready-made salads from the produce shelf for a quick salad anytime.
• Encourage your child to choose his or her own fruit when shopping.
• Store cleaned, cut up vegetables in the fridge at eye level and keep a healthy dip on hand.

Source: National Cancer Institute.