Fruit is good for you — no argument there. However, all the advice about how many servings to eat every day can be confusing.
The clear guide is the USDA Food Pyramid, an easy-to-understand chart that displays exactly how many servings of fruit to eat daily.
It’s not hard to work fruits into your diet every day because any fruit, even 100 percent fruit juice, counts. Your servings can come from fresh, canned, frozen, dried or puréed fruit.
Studies show that a diet rich in fruits can help protect you against many diseases. Here are just a few of the benefits of eating lots of fruit:
- Lower risk for stroke and coronary heart disease
- Lower risk for diabetes
- Lower risk for certain cancers
- Lower risk of developing kidney stones
- Reduced bone loss
Helpful Hints
To get your family started on a more “fruitful” diet, try these suggestions:
- Buy fruits your family already likes — everyone has a few favorites
- Keep a bowl of fruit out where everyone can grab some every day — the kitchen table or counter is convenient and easily-accessible
- Buy fresh fruits in season, when they may be less expensive
- Keep your pantry stocked with dried and canned fruits as well as fresh, so there’s always some on hand. Be sure the canned fruit is packed in juice or water, not syrup.
- Make it convenient — buy packages of pre-cut fruit in the produce section to make great snacks and toppings for salads and cereals
Finding fruit you and your family like, prepared the way you like, is easier than ever – and that makes enjoying a healthy diet easier, too.
