Fruit and Veggies

There has been some question as to what classifies a fruit or veggie, so I asked my impartial, unbiased sister in law to write a post for me. She is a dietitian and puts together wellness plans for big companies. So here is to Nat! Thanks!

Fruits and Veggies

If you eat Healthy you will look and feel Healthy- who wouldn’t want that?

Eating more fruits and vegetables is a great way to improve your nutrition. It can be as easy as adding fruit to a bowl of cereal or adding grated carrots and zucchini to pasta sauce. These tips can help you get started.

Make it easy

• Keep a bowl of fruit within easy reach on the kitchen counter or your desk at work so that you can grab a piece of fruit when you're hungry. Then, you will reach for a piece of fruit instead a not-so-healthy snack. One thing that always helps me eat more fruit and veggies is to clean and/or cut them up as soon as I come home from the grocery store. Then, they are ready for me to snack on.
• Buy packaged, ready-to-eat fresh vegetables and fruits. These cut down on preparation time. They are great for making stir-fry.
• Keep dried fruit on hand for a snack that is easy to take with you when you're away from home.
• Use the microwave to quickly cook vegetables.

Take small steps

• Mix sliced fruit or frozen berries with yogurt or cereal.
• Add apple chunks, pineapple, grapes, or raisins to tuna or chicken salad.
• Make fruit smoothies by blending together fresh or frozen fruit, fruit juice, and yogurt.
• Add dried or fresh fruit to oatmeal, pancakes, and waffles.
• Add lots of colorful vegetables, such as red cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers, to green salads.
• Add lots of vegetables to sandwiches. Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and avocado slices are flavorful choices.
• Drink 100% fruit juice everyday, just make sure that the juice you buy is 100% Real Fruit Juice.
• Try freezing fresh grapes. Not only will this snack keep you cool, but it will give you a serving of fruit!
• I love putting fresh strawberries or peaches on top of vanilla ice-cream it is a delicious treat and a great way to get a serving of fruit into my diet!

What exactly is a serving of Fruit and Vegetables you ask? Well- I’m going to tell you.

A serving of Fruit is one Medium piece of fruit = the size of a Baseball

A serving of Fruit Juice is 6 fluid oz. = A little less than one cup

A serving of Vegetables is ½ cup = Bulb part of a light bulb

Examples

Fruit Servings

½ banana

1 medium apple, orange, or pear

½ cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit

Vegetable Servings

1 cup of raw leafy vegetables

½ cup of other vegetables; cooked, raw (chopped), or canned

½ cup of vegetable juice

PS How is it going? How do you like your "new fitness" plan? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it? Let me know. I would LOVE your feedback. Just leave a comment :)