Eat your fruits and veggies!!!

Americans are not eating anywhere near the daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables per day, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

The study from the US Department of Agriculture and the National Cancer Institute looked at the proportion of the population that met the government’s recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake.

According to the study, in 1999 to 2000, just 40 percent of the American population met then current recommendations to eat an average of five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. The figures were as low as 10 percent among girls ages 4 to 8 and as high as 60 percent among men ages 51 to 70.

The new MyPyramid recommends eating two to 6 ½ cups per day of fruits and vegetables every day. Adding fruits and vegetables to your daily eating plan is easy:

• Add steamed broccoli to pasta or rice and beans.
• Boost the flavor in your soup by adding squash, cauliflower or turnips.
• Chicken and noodle casserole is enhanced when you add carrots, green beans or sun-dried tomatoes.
• Instead of noodles in lasagna, try eggplant slices.
• Roll cabbage leaves around meat and rice patties or a barley and veggie patty.
• Slice bananas into cereal.
• Add chopped apples or dried cranberries to green salads.
• Top cakes and frozen desserts with sliced berries or peaches.

And of course, fruits and vegetables make quick, enjoyable snacks any time.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team