June 17 is National Eat Your Vegetables Day! A day dedicated to encouraging people to get their veggies and spreading awareness of the benefits of eating vegetables. Vegetables have always played an essential role in humans’ lives, dating back to when we were simply hunter-gatherers. They come in almost every shape and size, and the mix of flavors they bring to the table is amazing. As well as adding variation to your diet, eating the recommended daily 5 servings of vegetables decreases the risk of death from heart disease, cancer, and respiratory disease.
Here are some ideas on how you can eat more vegetables:
- Mix up your morning eggs by adding spinach, peppers, or mushrooms. Or swap out that morning muffin for a smoothie with leafy greens blended in.
- Keep pre-chopped veggies easily accessible in your fridge or on your counter for an easy snack. Or pick up some veggie chips, they are not only low in calories or fats, but they taste great too!
- Swap out the French fries for a side salad at lunch or dinner. Or even better, try a vegetarian meal at a restaurant.
For more information on what equals a serving of vegetables, check out the infographic “Fruits and Vegetables Serving Sizes Infographic” by the American Heart Association.
Source:
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/fruits-and-vegetables-serving-sizes
https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/how-many-fruits-and-vegetables-do-we-really-need
