How to eat fruits and vegetables: 20 tantalizing tips

While there are a variety of foods that could be consumed, everyone is knowledgeable that there are some foods that easier to eat than others. Fruits and vegetables can offer the body with all the vitamins, nutrients and minerals that are required for healthy functioning. There are a variety of health benefits that are obtained from eating fresh fruits and vegetables . Actually, this living food it is one of the few foods that can help a person control how much they weigh and prevent a number of different diseases.

Here are some health benefits that are obtained from consuming fruits and vegetables regularly:

• Weight Loss – Anyone that is certainly interested in losing weight should definitely increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. Unlike other “diet” foods, fruits and veggies are naturally fat free when eaten of their natural, whole state. Because they are naturally fat free people can consume as much as desired and there’s worry about gaining a lot of weight. Also, many fruits or vegetables contain fiber which can help a person to feel fuller when eating. The complete feeling will result this device less food. Not least, they offer the body with an increased level of energy which is ideal for those are exercising to lose weight naturally.
• Protection from Diseases – One of those unfortunate benefits that is based on eating fruits or veggies is protection from diseases. Fruits and vegetables possess a number of substances that act to naturally protect the body from a variety of disease such as heart disease and cancer. Many of them contain antioxidants which were proven to reduce the level of free radicals in the body. It has been determined that people who eat greens on a regular basis are more likely to reduce their likelihood of obtaining certain health problems. Incorporating at least five parts of fruit and/or vegetables into a diet plan is recommended for optimum health.
• Great for Health – Fruits and vegetables are one of the few foods that men and women can eat that is generally good for themselves. The fresh ones contain minerals and vitamins that some people take supplements to get. By eating more fruits and vegetables folks are improving their bodies in many ways. Consuming them fresh, increase energy levels and they also assist in improving the look and texture on the skin. There are so many ways that vegetables and fruits may be prepared in order for people to get the maximum benefits from consumption. Most of the people consume large amounts of vegetables and fruits are much healthier than people.
• Increased Eye Health – As people age their vision seems to depreciate somewhat. Many people take the decline in eyesight as a general symbol of aging, there are ways by which eye health could be improved by consuming fruits and vegetables. There are a variety of vegetables which contain certain substances that help to reduce the risk of eye health degeneration. For instance, spinach and other leafy green vegetables contain lutein which is a carotenoid that assists aids in reducing the occurrence of eye diseases including cataracts and macular degeneration. Carrots possess a significant amount of a vitamin which is known to prevent cataracts and blindness.

These are merely a few of the health benefits that are offered to those that eat fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. For people who say they don’t have time for fruits and vegetables, we’ve assembled 20 tips requiring almost zero extra time or effort. If you incorporate just a few of them into your daily diet, you’ll meet your produce needs.

1. Heating canned soup in a microwave? Add to the bowl a cup of frozen peas, string beans or carrot slices. You instantly boost veggie content.
2. Keep single-serving (6-ounce) cans of low-sodium tomato juice or vegetable-juice cocktail in your desk at work, in the car, in your tote or briefcase. They count as 1 instant serving.
3. Add more veggies than your casserole recipe calls for. You’re already investing time in slicing up something — celery, onions, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, whatever. It takes just seconds more to slice twice as much.
4. Serving pasta sauce? Doctor it up with extra chunks of zucchini, onions, mushrooms, peppers or shredded carrots.
5. Making chicken salad? Make it magnificent with chopped apples, grape halves, pineapple cubes or diced mango. Think in terms of half chicken, half fruit.
6. Making tuna salad? Add lots of chopped celery and onion. Or, add crunch with chopped jicama — a mild, slightly sweet-tasting vegetable similar to a water chestnut. Aim for half tuna, half veggies.
7. Indulge your salsa cravings. Each half-cup counts as one serving (most are tomato based). Try new varieties like mango salsa.
8. For instant grapefruit in the morning, keep on hand a jar of grapefruit sections.
9. Instead of candy, reach for the bowl of dried fruit: only 2 tablespoons gets you 1 serving. Beyond raisins, consider dried cranberries, cherries or papayas.
10. Making macaroni and cheese? Cook a box of frozen mixed vegetables to add to your recipe. If you’re in a cafeteria, take small side dishes of mac and cheese, steamed broccoli and carrot slices. Mix together for an instant casserole.
11. Grab an apple to munch in the car. They’re perfect for dashboard dining–no drips or crumbs.
12. No fresh fruit to pack for lunch? Keep single serving cans of fruit cocktail on hand. Or open a can of tropical fruit cocktail and transfer some to a single-serving container.
13. Look for Just Veggies snack mix of freeze-dried corn, peas, and pieces of tomato, carrots and bell pepper. It’s lightly crunchy, lightly sweet, preservative-free and addictive. Also super: Fruit Crunchies, a tart-sweet mix of freeze-dried apples, raisins, blueberries, sour cherries, mango, pineapple and raspberries. Available in any natural-food stores.
14. Order every pizza with lots of “double” veggies. If you don’t order double, sometimes what you get is a token sprinkle.
15. When eating out at a restaurant, ask whether your entrée comes with a vegetable side dish. If it doesn’t, make sure you order a vegetable as an extra.
16. Another restaurant tip: If your entrée includes a salad, ask if it’s mostly iceberg lettuce, which isn’t as nutrient-rich as most leafy greens. If it’s mostly iceberg, ask to trade it in for a vegetable, applesauce or fruits cup.
17. Fine restaurants usually offer wonderful fresh fruits for dessert, no matter what season of the year it is. But why enjoy these delicacies only for dessert? Relish them as a luxurious appetizer. Another appetizer idea: Order one of the vegetables of the day.
18. Use salad bars to make a vegetable sandwich. Fill a sandwich roll or pita half with your choice of shredded carrots, chopped peppers, tomato wedges, sprouts and more. Top with a splash of olive oil or balsamic vinegar if available.
19. When you’re asked to bring a contribution to parties or family dinners, become famous for the beautiful crudite trays you bring, complete with low-fat dip.
20. This one is so obvious we bet it’s overlooked a lot: Instead of 1/2 cup serving of veggies, take a full cup. It’s only a few more bites, but you’ve racked up 2 servings.