By Nurse Diane
June is National Fruit and
Vegetable Month. It’s the
perfect time to celebrate, because there are alot of family gardens popping up
all over town. The most popular crop
here is tomato. I have never grown any,
because people, who do grow them, always have more than they can eat, and they
like to share. Other popular crops include: squash, bell peppers, onions, jalapeño
peppers, corn, okra, beans and peas. I
don't know of too much fruit grown around here, there are watermelons, cantaloupe,
and occasional strawberries and blueberries.
Fruits and vegetables are a
great way to get the most nutrition out of your calories. They are packed with
vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients.
Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of
fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a
healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including
stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
I have been trying to add more
fruits and vegetables in my diet, so here are some tips to help sneak some
extras into your meals:
Wake up to fruit: make a habit of adding
fruit—fresh, frozen or dried—to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal,
yogurt or toaster waffle.
Stock up: Fill your fridge with raw vegetables
and fruits—"nature's fast food"—cleaned, fresh and ready to eat.
"Sandwich" in fruit and vegetables:
Add pizzazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumbers and
tomato as fillings.
Top your pizza with lots of veggies. Try
broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini.
So while the veggies are popping
up in your area, stock up and learn how to freeze them to save for the winter
months, and if you can't eat enough veggies or fruits, you can always have a
V-8!
(Photos from Google)
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