Are you eating your Veggies?

One of the biggest problems to eating healthy in America, is the lack of fruits and vegetables in our daily diet.

It seems like most Americans are proud if they`ve managed to eat one serving a day or like many others just avoid them all together.

The problem isn`t that Americans are eating too much but in fact the opposite. We aren`t eating enough! Not enough fruits and vegetables that is!

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture`s Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals; only 1 out of every 100 Americans meets even the minimum standarts for eating an adequate diet. 1 out of every 4 Americans do not include even one fruit in their daily diet AND Americans only average about 3 vegetables a day.

If all we did was focus on eating more (fruits and vegetables), even doubling our intake of this pearl produce (filled with antioxidants, fiber, and phytochemicals) we would take the single greatest step toward a healthful diet and dramatically improving our chances of preventing all age-related diseases like heart diseasse, diabetes, high blood pressure, UTI`s, Osteoporosis, and cancer. Not to mention pre-mature aging and weight control. (See reference below)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after conducting a study concluded that; not eating enough fruits and vegetables ranks second only to not using sunscreen as the most common significant health behavior contributing to disease risks.

If we really value and respect ourselves (mind and body) why would we not want to feed our bodies with nothing but the best. We need to be thinking `Nothing is too good for my body. It deserves the best!`

Say it: I deserve the best, I deserve antioxidants!

Also note that antioxidants are found in the pigments of fruits or vegetables so the deeper the color the higher the level of these great fighting nutrients. This means that spinich is a better leafy salad than an iceberg lettuce salad. (See reference below)

Concentrating on eating more fruits and vegetables is easier then focusing on what not to eat. If you spend all day telling yourself `I need to eat more, I need to eat more` or imagine all the colors you havn`t put in your mouth that day you are way more likely to turn your life around then focusing on all the bad (but tastes so good) things you can`t have! It`s always better to think positive rather then get frustrated and quit at your own best efforts.

Eating vegtables is crucial in maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. They provide so much nutritional value, keep us healthy, feeling younger and functioning at our best! Eating fruits and veggies is the real food for the soul.

Your goal should be to eat 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day to get the amount of nutrition your body requires to function at its best! It may not seem like a lot at first glance but trust me it takes time to consistently eat that many on a daily basis.

Lets take a peak at what this would look like. You would have to eat 2 servings of vegetables/fruits at every meal (3 meals a day) and at least one serving at each snack (if you are eating 2 snacks a day!) and that still only puts you at 8 servings for the day. How many Americans eat 5 times a day? Do you?

So here is your challenge if you want to change your lifestyle around and live to be the best you can be! Try the 5X9 grind! if you can. Try to eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables (doesn`t even have to be fresh, canned and frozen work too!) a day AND they need to consist of 5 different colors! Can you do it? But make sure they are full servings, NO CHEATING LOL!

Afterwards post how it went and how you feel (emotionally & physically)...I would love to hear your feedback!

Data and information was taken from a favorite read of mine; (10 Habits that mess up a Woman`s Diet by Elizabeth Somer)