Ways to Get More
Fruits and Vegetables in Your Diet:
- Make
it fast: Keep
fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or table for a fast and portable snack
on the way out to (or back in from) work or school.
- Make it easy: Keep small (or cut up) pieces of fruits and vegetables
in the refrigerator for snacks or for making fast and easy bag lunches.
- Make it your way: Request that your favorite restaurant serve you
a salad or fruit instead of French fries with lunch.
Make it fun: Make faces from sliced banana or raisins on peanut butter
spread on half a whole grain English muffin for your child’s
lunch.
- Make it exciting: Serve something new or exotic like kiwi on the half
shell for dessert.
- Make it a gift: Take a frisbee and, using it like a plate, load on
some fruit (bananas, apples, tangerines) a bag of baby carrots, a pair
of athletic sox and a pedometer. Wrap in clear wrap and tie with a
bow as a gift for your favorite person.
- Make it portable: Buy small cans of fruit or vegetables to toss into
a purse, backpack, lunch bag, or pocket for a portable snack. Don’t
forget the spoon!
- Make it interesting: Try something new. Put a carrot, parsnip, plum,
and Pluot in a bag. Have the family close their eyes and try to identify
the items by how they feel. Then have them taste the items with their
eyes still closed!
- Make it healthy: Eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each
day offers huge health benefits like fighting cancer, giving added
fluid, increasing fiber, and great flavor.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, www.health.state.mn.us