It seems that despite continued effort to educate the American public as to the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, most Americans still don’t eat enought fruit and veggies, as described in a new report by the name of State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009 we are far from the healthy place we should be. No state meets the national goals for the consumption of fruit and vegetables. None.
The goal is that in 2010 75% of Americans will eat the recommended 2 servings of fruit each day and 50% will eat the recommended 3 servings of vegetables each day.
This is truly a worthy goal but it seems we’re far off the mark. Surveys show that only 33% of adults each enough fruit and only 27% eat enough vegetables. When you look at the stats for high school students, the data is even worse: 32% eat enough fruit and just 13% eat enough veggies.
This means that our children aren’t getting what they need to grow up in an optimal way and that we aren’t protecting ourselves as we should from chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It has long been established that fruit and vegetables are natural risk reducers of all these diseases.
What needs to be done is simple: a complete reform in the food that school offers students and a change in education to place great emphasis on eating fruit and vegetables. This can help us not only protect our health better but save the American tax payer a lot of money in reduced health costs for many years to come.
It is also a good time to have a look at yourself and how you’re eating. Are you eating enough fruit and vegetables? Make sure to eat 2 fruits and 3 vegetables a day at the very least (I usually eat more).
In addition, now is a good time to look at what you have in your home and kitchen and see how you can go for healthier food choices. One great ebook which teaches all that is Fat Burning Kitchen. Check it out for better health and low body fat.
