Diets come and go, and with them come all kinds of crazy recommendations. But one thing that has held true over the years is the recommendation to include plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you’re like me, you know you should be eating these foods but somehow you’re just not quite getting enough. In fact, only 1 in 10 American’s are getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diet.
When we don’t include enough fruits and vegetables in our daily diets, we run the risk of being deficient in certain nutrients. Packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other good stuff, we don’t want to miss out. Fruits and vegetables benefit everything from our digestive system to our eyesight, heart health, and even neurological function. So how do we make sure we are getting enough on a daily basis?
While the U.S Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 2 1/2 cups of vegetables daily, it’s ok if you don’t meet that goal every day. Your body doesn’t reset every 24 hours to start your intake count at zero. Instead, aim for an average of 2 1/2 cups per day. You’re going to have days where you eat more produce and days where you eat more pizza. It’s all about finding that balance over time.
Eating a balanced diet doesn’t have to be difficult, even though the media often makes it seem that way. Making small, simple changes can make a world of difference in you diet diversity. I challenge you to find a new way to add vegetables to your diet and share back with me!
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