13 Ways to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

We all know we should be eating our fruits and vegetables. You’ve probably heard the recommendations for meeting a five-a-day quota, or seen the USDA’s recommendation to fill half of your plate with fruits and veggies at each meal. And you probably already know that eating fruits and vegetables provides a number of important health benefits, like reducing the risk of chronic diseases and heart disease and helping you manage your weight.

With all of those benefits, you’d think people would be chowing down on bok choy and snacking on celery root at every opportunity. But not everyone has a built-in love for the produce department. If you struggle to fit in your fruits and vegetables, read on for some ways to make eating healthier easier than ever!

13 Tips to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

1. Eat a fruit or vegetable with every meal. If half a plate of fruits and vegetables seems like an overwhelming goal for you right now, start by adding one fruit or veggie to each meal. You can eat them as a side—think a cup of green beans with dinner or a banana with breakfast—or simply start adding them to foods you already eat. Fruit is a cinch to add to your morning oatmeal, yogurt or cereal in the morning. Add onions and peppers to meat dishes, or pile a few of your favorite vegetables onto your sandwich for lunch. Once you start working them in, you’ll welcome the new additions!

Head on over to SparkPeople for all 13 tips for increasing your fruits and veggies! —Erin