Fruits and vegetables should be the cornerstone of your diet. They are low in calories, and high in vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber. Experts suggest that you should eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

The BENEFITS of eating more fruits and vegetables include:

• they are packed with vitamins and minerals;
• they can help you to maintain a healthy weight;
• they are an excellent source of fiber and antioxidants;
• they can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers;
• they taste delicious and there are so much varieties to choose from.

Make sure you eat your vegetables and fruits today and every day. The more colorful fruits and vegetables are the healthiest ones to eat. They contain phytochemicals in the pigments that give them their colors. Those phytochemicals often function as anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that will help keep you healthy and fight off the aging process.

Make Fruits and Vegetables Convenient at Home & Work
Apples, pears, bananas, oranges and cherry tomatoes don’t need any refrigeration. Keep your fruits and vegetables in plain sight on your counter top or table, so you can easily grab a piece of fruit or a handful of cherry tomatoes.

Dehydrated fruits such as raisins, dates and dried cranberries keep well in plastic bags. Pack a bag of raisins or single serving packs of apple sauce or fruit cups that don’t need refrigeration and can be kept at your desk.

Eating away from home can be difficult, but with some thought you can still get enough fruits and vegetables into your diet. At lunch, choose a side salad instead of french fries and drink juice instead of a soda.

Fruits and Vegetables as Snacks
Instead of reaching for bags of greasy chips, bowls of ice cream or sugary sodas, reach for some of these great SNACK IDEAS instead:

• freshly cut vegetables with your favorite dip;
• drink juice instead of soda. Mix your favorite 100% fruit juices with club soda if you miss the fizz;
• make a delicious parfait by layering fresh or frozen berries with vanilla yogurt and nuts or granola;
• eat a chocolate covered strawberry instead of a candy bar;
• have a small bowl of whole grain cereal with sliced fruit or raisins and low fat milk;
• keep seedless grapes in the freezer instead of Popsicles and ice cream bars.