Fruits and vegetables don’t just taste good…they can make you feel great, too! MyPlate, the visual symbol of the five food groups, encourages Americans to make half of their plates fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients and fiber, and eating them on a regular basis can help keep Maine families healthy.
These five tips below can make it easier to add more fruits and vegetables to your family’s meals and snacks.
- Focus on whole fruits
- Does your family schedule always feel packed? You can take the prep work out of eating more fruit by focusing on eating whole fruits. For example: whole fruits like apples, bananas and blueberries are delicious – and a great source of fiber.
- Vary your fruits and veggies
- Have you noticed that half of the MyPlate is made up of fruits and vegetables? They don’t have to be the same every time! Consider varying your fruits and vegetables and trying something new with your family to shake things up.
- Go for a dip…or a dunk!
- Fruits and vegetables can taste great plain, but who said they have to be? The Maine SNAP-Ed website has plenty of low-cost dip recipes with so much yummy flavor. Consider dipping veggies in this easy and nourishing hummus, for example.
- Take your fruits and veggies to go
- Whether it’s packing a snack or a full meal, sometimes we just need to take our food to go. Berries, carrots, and more are all tasty to munch on whether your family is on the road, at school, or at work.
- Check out your local farmers’ market
- Have you heard? Maine Harvest Bucks gives you bonus bucks to buy fresh fruits and vegetables when you spend your SNAP/EBT dollars on local food. Multiplying your food budget makes it easier to shop healthy! You can earn bonus Maine Harvest Bucks at over 50 locations, including farmers’ markets, farm stands, and CSAs. Learn more and find a market near you here.
Want to learn more about the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables and explore some easy recipes that use them? Consider taking a free class with one of our experienced Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators! Classes are offered both virtually and in person around the state. Learn more and sign up here.
