Eat Right

5 Servings or more of Fruit & Vegetables

We’ve all been told: Eat your vegetables!– and for good reason. Fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are full of important vitamins, minerals, water and fiber that help keep your body healthy! It’s important to include five or more servings each day. Fruits and veggies help prevent certain types of diseases (including cancer). They help give you a healthy complexion. They help make blood and they keep bones and muscles strong. Do you need any other reasons to load up?

Wanna enjoy a real fruit snack? Partners for Health is a group in Kansas City working together to promote healthy living and connect to community resources! See info below on fresh fruits and veggies in the KC area:

• TMC’s Healthy Harvest Mobile Market sells high quality fruits & vegetables at low cost! It travels to different locations in KC, including a stop at the Linwood YMCA on Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Shoppers choose a free piece of fruit or a veggie when they bring a reusable grocery bag! Click here to see what $5 can buy you on the mobile market!
• KC farmer’s markets are a great place to find variety and stretch your dollar on fruits and veggies!
• Double Up Food Bucks Program provides FREE rewards at farmer’s markets and area grocery stores for SNAP recipients!
• WIC is a program that provides healthy foods, including fruits and veggies, from local grocery stores for families with young children and pregnant mothers.
• For tips on how to select, store, prepare and preserve fruits and vegetables use the Seasonal and Simple app that is available for iphone and Android users.

Check out this video to see the great Partners 4 Health members sharing about their organizations and living out their vision of health for all!

Parents can be good role models for their children in all things, including eating fruits and vegetables. Parents also need to know that it may take some time for children to try new foods. Don’t force it! Try offering new fruits and vegetables prepared in a variety of ways. Take your children with you when you visit a mobile or farmer’s market. Have your children help pick out new foods. Another thing we’ve all been told: Try it, you will like it!

Tips to eat more fruit & vegetables:

• Wash and cut fruits and vegetables ahead of time for a quick snack.
• Keep fruits and vegetables in sight in the refrigerator or on the counter.
• Ask for tomatoes or extra veggies on sandwiches.
• Add extra fruit to a lite yogurt smoothie.
• Serve raw vegetables with low or nonfat dip.
• Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables… each color (red, orange, green, etc.) contains different nutrients.
• Learn how to cut fruit and vegetables by visiting our playlist of videos here!
• Learn tips and tricks to making your fruits & vegetables last longer here.
• USDA’s smart shopping for veggies and fruits will help you stay on budget.

Click here to find fun ways that you can be Fit-Tastic! At Home during COVID-19!