Americans Still Not Meeting Fruit and Veggie Goals
50 states — and not one of them is meeting the government’s modest goals for fruit and vegetable consumption.
By and large, Americans are still falling short on eating produce. According to 2009 data from the CDC, 67.5 percent of U.S. adults at fruit less than two times a day and 73.7 percent at vegetables less than three times a day.
Do you and your loved ones fall in the not-eating-enough produce category? While my son and I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, my boyfriend and his son all but refuse to eat anything but corn, potatoes and the occasional apple. Here are some tricks and tips for getting the non-produce lovers in your life to boost their fruit and veggie intake:
- Handy snacks. Keep a fruit bowl on the counter and within easy reach. Also, pre-cut veggies and store them in the fridge for quick snacks. While trying to push the produce on others will probably backfire, if they see you snacking healthfully often they may follow suit.
- Give it a dip. Offer tasty dips to go along with fruits and veggies. While the dips may add more calories and fat, you’re still introducing the healthy habit of eating produce. And there are many healthful dips you can try such as hummus for veggies and yogurt for fruits.
- Cook it all ways. Don’t just stick to steaming vegetables. Try sauteing, stir-frying, roasting and other cooking methods and see what tickles the taste buds of your loved ones.
- Mix it in. Soups, stews and casseroles offer great opportunities for including vegetables in the main course. When the veggies aren’t on their own in a side dish, it’s less intimidating. Fruits are great on cereals and in desserts — even people who won’t pick up a piece of raw fruit won’t turn down angel food cake and berries.
- Be persistent. Don’t be pushy and try to argue people into eating more fruits and vegetables. But do be quietly persistent. Keep serving fruits and vegetables — eventually the idea will take root.
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