Easy tips to eat more fruits and vegetables

Do you feel guilty that you don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables? Are you feeling lethargic because you’re snacking on processed foods instead of healthy fruits or nuts? Well, it can be difficult to add fruits and veggies to your diet, and many of us struggle incorporating them into our daily meals. To help you along, here are a few ideas that are sure to make it easier for you to eat more of Mother Nature’s goodness.

Keep fruit easily available in plain sight

Any marketer will tell you that the easier you make it for a consumer to purchase a product, the more likely he or she will actually buy it. This same idea applies to fruits and vegetables too!

Try putting a fruit basket out on your kitchen table or counter. You’ll be amazed at how often you find yourself munching on an apple, pear or banana and you will soon lose the taste for naughtier treats.

Eat small portions of fruits and veggies with each meal

A 10,000 mile journey begins with one step. And a well-balanced diet that incorporates fruits and vegetables begins with one bite, and then another…and another. Distribute your fruit and veggie intake over the course of all your meals. Try blueberries with breakfast, apples after lunch, and strawberries for a dinner dessert. For your veggies, spread some avocado on a sandwich for lunch or try a side of salad with dinner.

With a little thought, it can be easy to integrate fruits and veggies into your diet. Plan them into your meals, and you’ll be eating more in no time.

Whip up a green smoothie

What better way to get your daily dose of veggies than with a green smoothie? Grab a handful of kale mixed with some spinach, berries and carrots, and you’ll reach your daily intake recommendation for greens in a jiffy. Even better, it will taste delicious.

Snack on fruit or vegetables in between meals

Remember snack time in preschool? After waking from your afternoon nap, you were served up with apples, celery (ants on a log anyone?), and carrots on a daily basis. Unfortunately for many of us, somewhere along the path to adulthood we fell out of this pattern. Why not start it up again now? Fruits and veggies are the perfect in-between meal snack. They’ll not only fill your belly, but also give you an extra boost of nourishing energy that doesn’t drag you down like cola or a cupcake will.

Explore the wonders of the produce aisle

In many produce departments around the country, there are wonders to behold. You can snack on grapes from Chile, apples from New Zealand, or oranges from Australia. And this culinary tour of the world isn’t the only treat the produce department has to offer. At some grocery stores you can even sample exotic fruits and veggies like mango (Asia), kiwano melons (Africa), and Romanesco (Italy).

The produce department is seriously a never ending discovery of delightful snacks and healthy treats that can liven up any meal. Take some time to explore today, and you may soon be coming back for more.

Want more ideas on how to integrate fruits and vegetables into your diet. Give us a call and talk to one of our nutrition experts today.