Add A Rainbow To Your Plate

March 1st tells me Spring is basically here! Time for everyone to get out of hibernation state and get outside. Springtime is a great time to get in shape because there are so many ways to stay active when the temperature gets higher.

Another advantage to Spring being here is that more fruits and veggies are in season. There are huge advantages to adding more fruits and veggies into our diets. First of all, eating more fruits and vegetables make our immune systems stronger. As for me, the Spring pollen has given me the sniffles and sinus drainage. In order to build up the immune system, take vitamins and also consume more fruits and veggies that offer a good dose of vitamin C. Below are examples of what to put in your cart at the grocery store:

Veggies high in Vitamin C:

-Broccoli- A 1/2 cup serving provides 45 mg of vitamin C

-Peppers! Pick red, orange, and yellow peppers. Peppers provide almost twice the amount of vitamin C than green peppers do

-Oddly enough, white potatoes also have a dose of vitamin C. Sweet potatoes do as well.

-Fresh Spinach

Fruits high in Vitamin C:

-Blackberries

-Grapefruits (I have been eating about 1 a day lately! They have been sweeter than normal)

-Oranges

-Kiwi

-Tangerines (they have been yummy lately)

-Strawberries (great topper for oatmeal and cereal)

When eating Spring vegetables and fruits, add a rainbow to your plate... By this I mean add variety of different fruits and veggies to your plate that have different colors. When there is color variety in your fruit and veggie choices, you'll end up getting all different types of nutrients and vitamins added into your diet. Many of us often choose bland colors for food choices.

Why eat more fruits in vegetables besides the reasons I just listed?

-Fruits and vegetables provide fiber. Fiber helps one feel full and keeps the digestive system happy

-They are a great snack that are very low in calories

-They reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure. Fruit and veggies also reduce digestive problems

The fruits and veggies that are in season the month of March are pineapple, broccoli, mangoes, and lettuce. One should eat around 4.5 cups a day of fruits and veggies per day. Go to the grocery store and buy a beautiful rainbow of foods this week!