Eat Fresh for a Healthier 2007

The New Year is a great time to make resolutions. The most popular goal for Americans is to lose weight. For some, losing weight is as easy as adding more fresh foods to your diet.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has some great tips on healthy eating on their website www.mypyramid.gov. One of our favorite tips is to eat fresh vegetables that are in season rather than canned which have lots of added sodium (salt).

Fresh fruits and vegetables can certainly make any meal look great. An added benefit of eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is that they can help to reduce the risk of certain serious chronic diseases and other conditions such as heart attack, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, vision loss, and some intestinal ailments.

The USDA recommends approximately 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day as part of a 2,000 calorie diet. Surveys indicate that most Americans only consume about half that amount.

It’s easier than you think to add what’s missing! Some tips for getting that extra serving of veggies each day are: adding chopped vegetables to pasta sauce and lasagna, add a small green salad every night with dinner, drink a glass of vegetable juice or tomato juice each day, plan a meal around vegetables by having a stir fry or soup as the main course, or shred carrots and zucchini into meatloaves, breads, casseroles, and muffins.

As always, check with your doctor before changing your diet. And visit the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, where fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered every day!

For more tips and information on recommended eating habits, visit www.mypyramid.gov.