Winchester Sun Article

Monday September 15, 2008

At the end of the rainbow
By Julie Peterson

It’s a well known tale, interlacing itself into American folklore from the Irish; the tale tells that if you have “luck of the Irish,” and find the end of the rainbow; you’ll find a pot of gold. Look no further. The end of the rainbow now comes right to you! Yes, that is correct, right to you, straight from the farm and into your local grocery store.

There’s a kaleidoscope of vitamin and nutrient packed goodness in the produce, frozen foods, baking and canned foods section of your local supermarket.

The CDC, Department of Health and Human Services, the National Cancer Institute and USA.gov are now sponsoring “Fruits & Veggies More Matters.” This program replaces the “5-to-9-a-Day” program, which has been the national guideline regarding the intake of fruits and veggies.

Evidently, there is more than just a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow, there also appears to be a potential benefit to reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases.

In addition to the health benefits, they’re the ultimate convenient food provided by Mother Nature herself. They’re quick, delicious and come in over "200+ taste sensations!"

When Little Jack Horner sat in his corner eating his minced meat pie, sticking in his thumb, and pulling out a plum, then saying, “What a good boy am I!” he already knew the health benefits that come from eating his fruits & veggies. It takes more than one plum however, and by accessing http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematter.org. you can find out just how much you need individually. Once you access the site, you enter in your gender, age and activity level into a table and the Web site will immediately tell you how many servings of fruits and how many servings of veggies you need for your age and activity level.

It seems a daunting task to squeeze in all those fruits and veggies, but isn’t it worth it?
Rather than trying to add more food to your plate, try substituting fruits and veggies for what’s already on your plate. Half of what you eat during the day should come from fruits and veggies.
Adding fruits and veggies can actually simplify your food preparation time; replace instant mashed potatoes for a fresh baked potato in the microwave. Trade out pastas and heavily buttered breads for some lightly seasoned frozen veggies.
Frozen veggies now come in ready- to-steam packages. All you have to do is toss them in the microwave for the allotted time, and voila! You have a magnificent and colorful side dish. Cut down on your meat portions and keep them simple to save time. Fill up half your plate with a lovely salad, topped with a low-cal dressing and a few of your favorite dried fruits and nuts. Cut up a fresh apple or melon, perhaps some sliced strawberries mixed with pineapple and fresh blueberries for a mouth-watering fruit salad.

Fruits and veggies are naturally bursting with flavor, you don’t have to go through many steps to prepare a meal your family will love, and they’ll love you for making it.
This Web site also offers a database of all the fruits and veggies you can imagine, in that database you’ll find all the nutritional information you will ever need about any fruit or veggie of you choose.

Additionally, you will find fun family activities for grocery shopping. Activities such as allowing your children to go on a treasure hunt for colors; let them help create new combinations of fruits and veggies.

If you have preschoolers, try going on an ABC trip to the produce section: look for foods that start with letter “A,” avocados, apples etc… what sound does “A” make? Have a “B,” day, serve broccoli, bananas, butternut squash etc. You can enjoy your shopping trip with a bit of preparation on your part.

The Web site lists the “Top 10 Planning and Shopping Tips” to help you have more time and more money for nutritious meals:
1. Dried fruits. Dress up your cereal and salads and try them as a quick snack
2. Leftovers. Re-create a meal for a whole new meal by adding new fruits and veggies.
3. Convenience. Pick up canned and frozen fruits and vegetables.
4. Experiment. Try a new fruit or vegetable or try fixing it a different way.
5. Seasoning combinations. Buy plain, unseasoned vegetables and create your own flavoring.
6. 100 percent juice. Look for that “100 percent.”
7. Smoothies for breakfast. Frozen fruit is great in a smoothie on the run.
8. Easy to grab and go. Fill up your fruit bowl so your family can grab and go.
9. Meatless meals. Plan one meal a week with no meat, try using beans, this will save you in the time and money department.
10. Make more. Plan to have leftovers, then you have a ready-made meal for another evening.
Follow the rainbow! Make it your priority to brighten up your meals with some fresh, canned dried or frozen fruits and veggies!

There are limitless possibilities, join the millions who are enjoying the benefits of a healthier lifestyle through “Fruits and Veggies More Matters!”

Copyright:The Winchester Sun 2008 "