Marinas Menu & Lifestyle: FRUITS and VEGGIES are a Key to Healthy Eating

Thinking about your bathing suit body? Most people are. This is a great time to make some adjustments in your diet to make you feel healthier and be in the best shape possible.

The average American diet is deficient in both fruits and vegetables. These low-calorie foods are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adults eat one and one half cups of fruit and two to three cups of vegetables daily. Yet, only 1 in 10 Americans meet the federal recommendations. Take these measurements seriously. One apple or a few baby carrots just aren't enough.

Here are 5 tips to keep fruits and vegetables in your diet.

1. Think zoodles instead of noodles to increase vegetables in your diet and lower your intake of carbs. They are made by spiraling veggies like raw zucchini or carrots and garnishing them with a variety of sauces and marinades.

2. Don't just grill meats. Have an equal or greater portion of fruits and veggies on the grill. Include items like peppers, squash, tomatoes, peaches and pineapple. There are BBQ recipes galore that use fruits and vegetables.

3. Pack it for snacking in small containers. Choose fruits and vegetables that don't bruise or go bad like grapes, citrus sections, peppers, carrots, and cucumber.

4. Eat something new. Try a fruit or vegetable you've never had before or one that is totally exotic. Good food is all about discovery.

5. Get over those bad memories. Fresh asparagus is a world apart from canned. Early tastes may have turned you away from good eating habits. Give good food a second chance.

Check out the CDC website for good information on wellness and safety that includes healthy living, travelers' health, emergency preparedness, diseases and conditions, and more. Visit: https://www.cdc.gov/.

Photo credit: Freeimages.com

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