Celebrate National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month

In order to get close to that target amount, it can be helpful to change up the normal routine of how you prepare, serve and eat your fruits and vegetables. Since June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, why not start today and increase the amount of fruit and vegetables you consume each and every day. Here are some ideas on how to better your daily diet.

• Make it a point to try and eat at least one new fruit and vegetable each week.
• Take a trip to your local farmer's market and explore what delicious and fresh produce is available.
• Try out a new recipe using in-season fruits and vegetables . You could even see which ones would be best to cook on the grill.
• Involve the entire family. If your children see that you are eating an assortment of fruits and vegetables they may be more inclined to try out a new fruit or vegetable as well. Have kids help in the kitchen. There are various tasks that would be appropriate for almost any age and this is way for them to be hands on and see what eating healthy is all about.
• Options. Instead of having just a "plain salad", why not create a meal out of it. Set up a mini salad bar and have that be your main entr?e for dinner. Have small plates and bowls filled with various salad toppers. The salad topping options are endless! Vegetables such as : red peppers, corn, radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and carrots would be wonderful choices. Cut them into various shapes or grate them. Other salad topping could include: grapes, strawberries, hard-boiled eggs, and sunflower seeds. To make your salad into a full entr?e, add bit size pieces of chicken breasts, or even shrimp.
• Take the time to prepare and present fruits and vegetables. When we see food that looks beautifully presented, more than likely we are going to want to try it. Keep that same principle in mind when serving fruits and vegetables. Take the time to make your plates looks appetizing and appealing. Set out a beautiful plate of fruit kabobs or make a sun display using stuffed celery sticks? There are many ways to be creative and still eat healthy at the same time.