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SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, August 22, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, August 22, 2007
CONTACT: Kristin Biskeborn, (605) 734-4551
Try South Dakota fruits & vegetables with latest HealthySD.gov challenge
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakotans can sample the variety of fruits and vegetables grown in the state and take part in the latest Healthy South Dakota web challenge during National Fruit and Vegetable Month in September. Registration for the web-based Fruits & Veggies-More MattersTM Challenge begins now at www.healthySD.gov, with the actual competition taking place September 1- 30.
A diet high in fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of South Dakota’s three leading causes of death – heart disease, cancer and stroke.
“There is a wealth of fruits and vegetables grown in South Dakota and many of them are available in September. This challenge offers all of us a chance to try that produce and have a little friendly competition while we work toward a healthier diet,” said Kristin Biskeborn, State Nutritionist for the Department of Health.
South Dakota grown vegetables available in September include beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, cucumbers, lettuce, kohlrabi, onions, pumpkins, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, radishes. Apples, pears, melons, raspberries, and grapes are South Dakota grown fruits that are available in September.
People can compete in the Fruits & Veggies-More MattersTM competition as individuals or challenge friends, co-workers, or another company, to compete as teams. Participants can register at www.healthySD.gov and beginning September 1 they can use the site to log their fruit and vegetable consumption each day. Persons who sign up will receive a vegetable peeler. At the end of the challenge, ten randomly selected participants will receive a gift basket of fruit and vegetable items.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend most adults eat 2 - 2.5 cups of fruit and 2.5 - 4 cups of vegetables per day. However, according to the state’s latest Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, only 19% of South Dakota adults eat the minimum five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, or about 2.5 cups total.
To sign up or to learn more about the challenge, go to www.healthysd.gov and click on the “Fruits & Veggies-More MattersTM Challenge,” or call the department’s Office of Health Promotion at 605-773-3737.
Fruits & Veggies-More MattersTM is a joint campaign of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Produce for Better Health Foundation. The campaign website, http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/, offers recipes, tips about new fruits and vegetables, and a calculator to match fruit and vegetable need with activity level.