Five Servings a Day for Weight Loss?

Five servings of fruits and vegetables per day is the recommended daily consumption for a healthy diet.  This amount may sound excessive for someone who’s not accustomed to incorporating fruits and vegetables into their diet regularly.  The five servings don’t have to be consumed all at one mealtime.  You can start at breakfast time with a piece of fresh fruit with your toast or cereal and a glass of fruit or vegetable juice.
 At lunchtime, in addition to your sandwich, just pack some raw carrots or celery sticks or another selection of fresh or canned fruit.   At snacktime, in the middle of the afternoon or evening, focus on a fruit or vegetable item.  For your lunchtime, you can add a slice of tomato or two to your sandwich with some lettuce.

Dinnertime can consist of meat or fish for protein, a carbohydrate such as potatoes or pasta and a hot vegetable or a side salad.  By the end of the day, you will have eaten the five recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.

By adding consistently an abundance of fruits and vegetables, you will probably consume less calorie dense foods without officially going on a diet.  You will probably notice a slimmer waistline over time.  Fruits and vegetables have plenty of much needed nutrients for you also.  The fiber contained in this food group will keep your digestive tract running smoothly.  This may reduce your risk of colon cancer.

Certain vegetables, especially the dark leafy types are an excellent source of iron.  Iron is necessary for the health of our red blood cells to carry oxygen from our lungs to our body.  Vitamin A is found abundantly in dark orange and  green  vegetables.  Vitamin A is essential to our vision, especially at night and for the health of our skin, the lining of our mouth ,nose and throat and intestines. 

Vitamin C is much needed for healing cuts, wounds and burns.  Without enough vitamin C, we bruise easily and often have bleeding gums.  Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits and also in vegetables like brocolli and kale.  Calcium is necessary for the health of our bones and teeth.  There is calcium in large amounts in the dark leafy greens such as spinach or kale.

If you are not in the habit of including lots of fruits and veggies in your diet, today is a good time to start.  You can improve your overall health dramatically by developing this habit early on and carrying it throughout your life, making them your “staple”, instead of starches, meats or cheeses.