South Dakotans encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables


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SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 05, 2006
CONTACT: Larissa Skjonsberg, (605) 773-3737
 
South Dakotans encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables
 during September’s National 5 A Day Month, year round
 
PIERRE, S.D. – Even though eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is essential to good health and helps prevent disease, only about 10 percent of Americans, including South Dakotans, eat the recommended daily amounts. There are many reasons for this including access to fresh produce and perceptions of taste and palatability. One fundamental reason is that many people are simply not aware of how many they should eat and what constitutes a serving. The Department of Health is working to change this.
 
“It’s important to know what you need and to help your family get what they need for good health,” said Larissa Skjonsberg, 5 A Day coordinator for the department. “It’s easy to add fruits and vegetables to the foods you eat now—like soup, salads, pasta, cereal, and pizza. They are delicious as snacks, and these snacks won’t load you with a lot of calories, fat, salt, or added sugar.”
 
Cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers have been linked to poor diet and physical inactivity. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables can help South Dakotans reduce the risk of these diseases.
 
Skjonsberg suggests the following easy ways to fill your day with fruits and vegetables:
  • Top yogurt with sliced apples or frozen berries.
  • Add some vegetables, such as diced tomatoes and onions, to your egg or egg white omelet.
  • Have some fruit as a mid-morning snack – banana, apple slices, orange, and pears.
  • Serve fruits and vegetables with a healthy low-fat dip.
  • Munch on raw vegetables with a healthy low-fat dip.
  • Put grapes and banana slices on wooden skewers and freeze for “fruit on a stick.”
  • Add frozen vegetables to a casserole or pasta. Try broccoli, peas, and corn.
  • Ask for more vegetable topping (like broccoli and spinach) on your pizza. 
September’s National 5 A Day Month is the perfect time of year for the whole family to take the steps necessary to improve their health by incorporating the correct amount of fruits and vegetables into a healthy eating plan. For more information, visit Healthy South Dakota at www.healthysd.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web at www.cdc.gov/5aday.