September is not only National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, it also happens to be National Fruit and Vegetable month. It makes sense as these two tend to go hand and hand … the more colorful fruits and veggies you eat, the healthier you will be! That being said, sometimes it’s challenging to get those kiddos to eat the rainbow of fruits and veggies that is available to them.
Here are some simple tips to incorporate more colorful fruits and veggies into your diet:
Easy Access – Pre-cut vegetables like carrots, celery, peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, or cauliflower and have them readily available in the refrigerator for an easy, healthy snack.
Product Placement – Strategically place fruits (pre-washed of course!) such as apples, oranges, peaches, pears, or grapes out on the counter or in a nice bowl in the fridge where it is constantly visible and appealing for your kids (and spouses) to grab on the go!
Make it Pretty – There are so many creative ways to display your fruits and veggies (i.e., turning food into animals, festive holiday presentations, etc.) that could help the kids get excited about eating them. There are endless ideas available on Pinterest, so sign up if you have not already. You can check out some of our favorites on our Pinterest Boards.
Mix it up – Try adding some new veggies to your favorite dishes such as homemade pizza, omelets, macaroni and cheese (with whole grain pasta and low-fat cheese, of course!) to introduce them in the mix of some familiar tastes.
Drink them – A smoothie is one of the best ways to get the most “bang for your buck.” Select some of your kiddos’ favorite fruits to blend together and then add in some healthy greens, such as spinach or kale. The green color may throw you off, but it actually tastes quite good! We previously shared one of our favorite green smoothie recipes for St. Patrick’s Day. You can also check out our recipes for some tasty and colorful tropical fruit smoothies, as well as a delicious triple berry smoothie! Yum! What a great way to get in your fruits and veggies!
What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate fruits and veggies into your day?
