Listen to Your Mother: Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

Listen to Your Mother: Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

June 1, 2005

Do you know how many fruit and vegetable servings you eat daily? Good news, June is Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month, a perfect opportunity to take a closer look at your eating plan and make any necessary changes.

According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you need to consume 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables per day based on the reference 2,000-calorie diet.

You’ll find all of America’s favorites in the fruit group: apples, oranges, grapes and bananas. Some we eat less often: cherries, nectarines, pineapples and honeydew melons. Fruits supply varying amounts of carotenoids, including those that form vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, folate, potassium, fiber and many other phytonutrients.

Like fruits, different vegetables have different nutritional benefits. Dark-green leafy vegetables such as collard greens, broccoli, kale and spinach and deep yellow vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and carrots are great sources of beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, folate, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Others, such as brussels sprouts, bell peppers and tomatoes, have more vitamin C.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team


 

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