According to the Center for Disease Control, a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables can help reduce your risk of many chronic conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Most nutritionists would argue we need even more than that.
Here are some tips to ensure you get the right amount.
Educate yourself.
Make sure you know what a serving looks like for your go-to fruits and veggies. We may think we are getting an entire serving, when in reality, it may only be half a serving. Visit myplate.gov for specific serving sizes.
Track your eating habits.
Once you know where you are, it is easier to see where you need to go. Start by tracking your serving sizes for a few days, then find out where you could improve.
Make a plan.
When you meal plan, it can help incorporate more nutrition. If you find that you need more veggies, add baby carrots to your lunch or an extra side of veggies with dinner.
