June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable month! Fruits and vegetables are nutrition powerhouses and add flavor, color, and texture to meals.
Did you know just 1 in 10 Americans eats enough fruits and vegetables each day? (CDC, 2017).
Currently, it is recommended that people eat 1½ to 2 cups per day of fruit and 2 to 3 cups per day of vegetables. Eating enough fruits and vegetables can help prevent cancer, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, maintain good eyesight, etc.
Looking for ways to add more fruits/veggies into your day?
Try these tips:
Make banana bread
Add zucchini to baked goods like bread, cake, and muffins
Use applesauce or pumpkin puree as a natural sweetener for baked goods like brownies
Toss spinach or kale in a smoothie
Add more veggies to pizza or pasta sauce- can cut up onion and bell pepper really small to add more flavor to tomato sauce
Looking for tips for finding, preparing, and using fresh produce?
Try out the app: Seasonal and Simple on Google Play or the App Store.
This app is a collaboration between Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
It contains growing tips, recipes and farmers’ market information on seasonal produce.
Reference:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.html