The Benefits of Fruits and Veggies
By keeping a variety of recipes to choose from each day, kids and parents can enjoy healthy meals that still taste delicious and are fun to make. As a reminder, a balanced diet contains five main food groups: Fruits, Grains, Vegetables, Protein, and Dairy. Some of these groups are more commonly eaten than others. Fruits and vegetables, in particular, are notorious for being difficult to incorporate in a healthy diet. Today, we’re going to talk about why eating them is so important, as well as ways to incorporate them into your everyday lifestyle.
What are the Benefits of fruits?
Fruits comprise several benefits that are vital to the maintenance of the body. They offer several nutrients without any additional fat or cholesterol that other members of the food groups, like protein or dairy, do. Here are some examples of nutrients that fruits can offer, according to myplate.gov
Vitamin C - Found in common fruits such as strawberries, oranges, and apples, Vitamin C plays a key role in protecting the body. It helps the immune system fight diseases and bacteria and promotes mental health through its performance as an antioxidant.
Potassium - One of the more important minerals in the body, potassium helps regulate basic systems. A healthy diet of potassium can reduce blood pressure and protect aganist severe injuries such as stroke or kidney stones. Some potassium high fruits include bananas, oranges, grapefruit, and some dried fruits like raisins.
Dietary Fiber - Derived from whole or cut-up fruits, fiber can help reduce cholesterol and risk of heart disease.
What are the Benefits of Vegetables?
Vegetables are a surprisingly complex food group. They come in several sub food groups and come from a variety of sources. This means that, depending on what you eat per day, you can get an assortment of nutrients that apply to multiple areas at a time. Here are some ways in which vegetables can provide for the body, according myplate.gov:
Vitamin A - This is a versatile vitamin, aiding the body with vision, immunity, and several other systems. It promotes the maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys and other internal organs on a daily basis. These are typically found in dark, leafy vegetables such as spinach or chard.
Vitamin C - As with fruits, Vitamin C is important in protecting your body. It promotes the healing of cuts, wounds, and helps maintain the care of your teeth. It also aids your body in absorbing iron.
Folate - Folate, also known as Vitamin B-9, is integral in helping the body make red blood cells. A healthy diet of this vitamin helps prevent injuries' from low oxygen or blood levels, especially at an early age.
How do you eat more fruits and veggies?
Fruits and vegetables can have a bad reputation, especially when they’re portrayed in children's shows. Depicted with weird textures and smells, it’s easy to understand why some people may have adverse effects on them. However, fruits and vegetables can be fun to make and delicious to eat.
Some fruits, like berries or bananas, can be fun to eat raw. If your child can’t eat the whole thing, cut it up into little portions. You can also add fun sides, like honey or powdered sugar, to add additional flavor. Fruit juices, such as apple or orange juice, still provide benefits. While they may not contain any fiber, most of them still have vitamins that benefit the body. Drinking your food groups can be a great way to incorporate them into the diet.
Vegetables are a versatile food. They provide a lot of benefits no matter the form. Veggies can be cut up and eaten raw. They can also be cooked, dried, mashed and translated into other forms that make a delicious addition to a complete meal.
Today, we talked about the benefits of fruits and vegetables. These food groups can be incorporated in several different styles and means. By doing so, users obtain several nutrients as well as get a tasty addition to their meal!
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