By: Nikki Nies
Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables are a ubiquitous aspect of health eating recommendations! While fruits are a great contributor of natural sugar, fiber and micronutrients, it’s less likely that criticism will derive from the amount of vegetables consumed. The term fruits and vegetables kind of rolls of one’s tongue, but what message does that label send? By stating fruits before vegetables in the healthy recommendation, it hints that fruits are more important than vegetables to consume.
For many, it’s much easier to get their daily recommended intakes of fruit at 2-3 servings than to eat 5-7 servings of vegetables. However, with many folks barely getting 2-3 servings of vegetables, perhaps, our strategy for health promotion needs to change. Would it be more effective for the health industry to promote regular consumption of vegetables and fruits, not fruits and vegetables.
Vegetables can help one feel fuller longer on less calories, as they are high in water and fiber content. Quality vegetables also help ward of heart disease and stroke, control blood pressure, guard against cataracts and macular degeneration.
While we all know adequate intake of vegetables are necessary for optimal growth, development and maintenance, promotion of vegetables have not received enough attention and emphasis. Therefore, I propose the consumption of vegetables THEN fruits! What’s your take? Do you agree?
Photo Credit:Raw Edibles
Sources:http://www.in.gov/isdh/20096.htm
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/
http://www.med.umich.edu/umim/food-pyramid/fruits_and_vegetables.htm
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vegetables-full-story/
