Things don't just get national months named after themselves for no reason, so Episode 52 of Be Well With Steph, The Podcast is a little bit about why these are important, and a little bit about how to get more of them in your life.
Maybe you can set yourself a little goal to simply eat more fruits & veggies to honor the month of June, and this episode can help you do that!
Fruits & Veggies - What's the difference?
I'm not sure if everyone actually knows the difference between fruits & vegetables. I truly didn't know myself until doing some research for this episode -- I thought I did, but in reality I only knew what we typically consider to be fruits & veggies from a culinary or eating perspective.
Fruit: the part of a plant that contains the seeds (really the mature ovary); used by the plant to propagate; as well as a fleshy part that is edible, usually raw
Strawberries, raspberries, apples, bananas
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini - call them vegetables because they are most often used in savory dishes
Squash and pumpkins
Vegetable: a culinary term (not scientific) for any edible portion of a plant - leaves, stem, roots, tubers, bulb, flowers
lettuce/greens
Celery, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage
Carrots, radishes, potatoes, onions
Shocking, no?! I'm sure some of you may not even believe me & have to look this up for yourself so, be my guest! I was surprised myself to learn that many of the foods I've been eating my whole life, I've actually been calling the wrong thing until now.
Now, in case you need even more reason to add (or keep) fruits & veggies incorporated in your diet, here's a passage from Harvard School of Public Health:
"A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check. Eating non-starchy vegetables and fruits like apples, pears, and green leafy vegetables may even promote weight loss. Their low glycemic loads prevent blood sugar spikes that can increase hunger.
At least nine different families of fruits and vegetables exist, each with potentially hundreds of different plant compounds that are beneficial to health. Eat a variety of types and colors of produce in order to give your body the mix of nutrients it needs. This not only ensures a greater diversity of beneficial plant chemicals but also creates eye-appealing meals."
10 Tips to eat more fruits & veggies:
Look for local farmers markets: Awesome way to get affordable, in-season produce & support local farmers
Join a CSA (community supported agriculture): You pay a yearly fee to help support a local farm with cost of running, & you get a "share" in the produce - delivered sometimes weekly, bi-weekly, there's so many options!
Grow vegetables in buckets or flower beds: You can actually grow a few things in pots or buckets - don't need a huge fancy garden to make this happen!
Buy things that are in season: This is when they will be the most affordable, freshest, and most nutritious. Also, best for the environment! Check on google to find out what's in season near you.
Stop worrying about organic versus non organic: If it is stopping you for buying more produce, let that go. It's more important that you include these in youe diet than always buying organic.
Prep fruits are vegetables: As soon as you bring them home, try google tricks like putting paper towels in with your greens and putting cut salary in water to make them last longer.
Buy more when the price is right! If you find an amazing food at an amazing price, buy more and freeze it. Again, check out google for the best ways to freeze different things.
Make them easy to grab: Pre-make a fruit salad, chop & divide raw vegetables in containers so when you need them, they are ready to go.
Find dips and condiments you enjoy: This is like a means to and end. If a super delicious hummus or guacamole is the only reason you're eating raw carrots or celery, so be it!
Consider a challenge: Here's a suggestion! Challenge yourself to buying or trying one new kind of fruit or vegetable each week - or any other kind of challenge that you want! Make it your own.
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Prefer to listen to this topic? You can, here!
(I elaborate a lot more on some of these important, ideas, too.)
I would LOVE to hear what you thought about these tips & if there's any you are going to try. Let me know in the comments! ♡
You are worthy of living and capable of creating a healthy lifestyle you love. 🤍