5 a day

[snowgirl77]

I've been reading and hearing that the USDA recommends that you get 5 to 9 servings of fruits and veggies every day. I started trying this, and it's hard! The good thing about it is that when I do this, it fills me up so I can't eat crap. But I'm getting bored with mini carrots and apples. Does anyone have some not so run-of-the-mill fruits and veggies I can try?

[pisces2473]

Pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, oranges, kiwi, berries, starfruit, mango, papaya, pineapple, bananas, etc.

Broccoli w/ low fat dip (or hummus), celery, cukes, squashes and beans, radishes, lettuce.

Be creative!

[biodork]

Doesn't applesauce count? Like the regular stuff? Those are handy to take in those small cups. And try making your own smoothies! That's a good way to get in your fruit too!

[paiger81]

My favorite veggie is jicama.

For fruits I buy a lot of frozen fruits. Blend frozen strawberries & peaches & it comes out like a sorbet.

[hoodie]

what's jicama?

[Bugsey34]

I have been incorporating lots of veggies too lately. It is hard, but it does fill you up. I find that if I buy it, I find a way to use it.

Also frozen veggies are supposedly just as nutritious as fresh, and easier because they dont go bad. Plus they're cheaper.

[paiger81]

what's jicama?

http://www.sallys-place.com/food/columns/ferray_fiszer/jicama.htm

It's a multi-tasker cause you can eat it raw(PEEL FIRST) and its got a sweet crunchy taste. If you bake it, it tastes just like a potato.

And frozen veggies are usually fresher than "fresh" veggies because they are flash frozen as soon as they are picked.

[hoodie]

Ohh someone at my work made those with garlic and olive oil, cooked, it was like delicious mashed potatoes!!

[Kitty]

And frozen veggies are usually fresher than "fresh" veggies because they are flash frozen as soon as they are picked.

That is really interesting. I was actually going to post about that because I was wondering if frozen fruits and veggies are as good for you. I through I had read somewhere that they did lose some nutritional value.

Do you know where you got this info?

[paiger81]

Food Network.

Let me see if I can find something more on the net.

[paiger81]

http://www.knorr.ie/article/Article_Ieliving/0,,25-152-32787--113,00.html

Is one article, it states:
Frozen versus Fresh
It is a myth that fresh vegetables are actually more nutritious than frozen. As soon as a vegetable is picked it begins to lose its nutritional value, but freezing a vegetable the day it is picked, seals in the nutrients. In fact frozen vegetables often contain more vitamin C and folate than fresh vegetables, because modern harvesting and freezing techniques minimise the vitamin C and folate losses that would normally occur during the marketing process of fresh vegetables. It can be days or even weeks before a freshly picked vegetable is cooked and eaten, but at Birds Eye we can guarantee a matter of hours between picking and freezing. Frozen vegetables do not need to be cooked for as long as fresh vegetables, so less nutrients are lost in the cooking process.

Also, from Yahoo Health
Question:

Are frozen vegetables less nutritious than fresh?


Answer:

The answer to this question depends on the time between the harvesting of the vegetable and the preparation of the vegetable and on the method of preparation. Generally, frozen or canned vegetables are prepared immediately upon harvest when their nutrient content is at its peak.

The way vegetables are prepared can also affect the nutrient content. Fresh vegetables that are boiled in large amounts of water for long periods of time lose much of their nutritional content compared to vegetables that are lightly steamed.

Generally, vegetables that are fresh from the farm or just picked are more nutritious than their frozen or canned counterparts, however frozen vegetables are an acceptable nutritional alternative If using canned vegetables, look for those without added salt.

[Kitty]

Wow. So interesting. Thanks.

[biodork]

Hey thanks for posting that paige, it was really useful. I'm going to feel better about eating frozen veggies now!

[GetMeOuttaDC]

I've been reading and hearing that the USDA recommends that you get 5 to 9 servings of fruits and veggies every day.

five to NINE?!?!?!

[Kitty]

Yeah, but 1 serving is a fairly small portion. Like one apple can be 3 servings.

[paiger81]

.5-1 cup @ breakfast

.5 cup as midmorning snack

2-3 cups at lunch

.5 cup as midafternoon snack

2-3 cups at dinner.


Goes pretty quickly if you look at it like that.

[Tayl405]

Yeah, a lot of times you're probably eating 2-3 servings when you think it's only 1. Doing things like putting fruit in cereal, veggies (even just onions and mushrooms) in scrambled eggs, chopped up tomatoes in marinara sauce, etc. can add veggies to your meal without you even realizing it. I love steamed green beans with onions and broccoli with fat free mozz. cheese on top, or just lemon juice. 100% fruit juice counts too, but they're usually high-calorie.

Hmm...so considering that wine is made from grapes and therefore good for your heart, would wine be considered fruit?!? Because I definitely get enough servings then.... :green: