Savvy Fitness – Diet & Exercise » Do you forget to eat fruit and vegetables too?

Feb 20 2012

Do you forget to eat fruit and vegetables too?

Published under Diet Foods,Diet Plans,Healthy Eating,Nutrition

Do you forget to eat fruit and vegetables too?

Canadians are eating fewer fruits and vegetables for the first time in a decade, according to a Statistics Canada report released last June.

Just 43 per cent of us (aged 12 and older) say we do eat this food group more than five times a day, the portion frequency recommended by Health Canada. That is down from 46 per cent the year before. This data is based on an ongoing survey of 65,000 Canadians using more than 30 health indicators.

One reason suggested is that fruit and vegetables are not as readily available at fast-food counters, or in pre-packaged meals, and even in the refrigerator. Often, these highly nutritious foods need to be washed and sometimes peeled, so busy people may be reaching for something easier, quicker, or more indulgent. Fruit does, indeed, make a perfect snack, but the human craving for something sweet or salty prevails.

“Convenience, tastiness, and cravings can be met with a nutritious snack too,” says Livio Ghizzardi, the business development manager at Dole Canada. “The reason fruit and vegetables are recommended at such a high level each day is that they are filled with vitamins, phytochemicals, and antioxidants to keep the body healthy and to help fight disease. This food group is also high in nutrients for growth and development.

“Typically, however, we need more than fruit and vegetables to feel full, since most servings are low in calories, contain lots of water, and don’t contain the fat and cholesterol found in meats and other foods,” Ghizzardi explained. “But the naturally sweet taste of fruit will enhance any meal we prepare.”

Serve it as an appetizer; add it to green salads, to poultry dishes, to all desserts. If convenience is an issue, keep single-serve fruit cups handy in your pantry, or take them with you for a refreshing snack wherever you go.

“If you crave something more indulgent as a snack, we even have a fruit cup line today with a crispy whole grain oat topping,” Ghizzardi continued. “That one satisfies hunger with a little extra fibre; it satisfies our need for something sweet and more filling; and it is particularly satisfying when it’s warmed in the microwave for a home-baked taste.”

Health advocates say that eating lots of fruits and vegetables every day requires the combination of convenience, creativity, and care. With a little planning, the taste rewards can be exceptional, surpassed only by the benefits to our long-term health.

www.newscanada.com

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