What Does A Day Of Fruits & Vegetables Look Like?

According to the CDC, only 1 in 10 adults get the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables: 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables per day. Research shows that people who meet these recommendations have a reduced risk of a variety of chronic diseases and even certain cancers. This is due to their exceptionally high nutrient content, including fiber and a ton of vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron).

In addition to meeting fruit and vegetable amounts, it’s also important to make sure you are getting a variety of colors. This is because each color represents a different antioxidant (substances that help fight damage in the body).

Here are some examples of what a *colorful* day of fruits and veggies looks like:

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Salad: 2 cups leafy greens, ½ cup tomatoes, ½ cup sliced yellow bell pepper

Fruit bowl: 1 cup red grapes, 1 cup diced cantaloupe 

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Veggie platter (great with hummus or guacamole!): 1 sliced red bell pepper, 1/2 sliced cucumber, 1 cup baby carrots

1 apple

1 cup blueberries

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1 cup broccoli

1 sweet potato

1 cup sliced eggplant

1 orange

8 strawberries


 

Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6645a1.htm?s_cid=mm6645a1_w

https://journals.lww.com/acsm-healthfitness/fulltext/2019/05000/fruit_and_vegetable_intake_and_prevention_of.10.aspx


Abby Wadsworthnutrition, healthyeating, fruitsandvegetables, eatyourveggies