6 Tips To Keep In Mind For Eating Fresh Fruits And Veggies

Everyone knows they need to get more fruits and vegetables in their diet. But with all the competing information out there, it’s often not as simple as it sounds. Is one type of vegetable better than the others? How much of each do you need to eat? What’s the best way to eat them with their nutrition still intact? If you’re as confused about including more fresh produce in your diet, don’t be. Healthy eating is a lot simpler than it’s often made out to be. Here are 6 tips to remember, which help make the process a lot simpler.

# You Don’t Need Exotic Ingredients

Almost every month, a new ‘superfood’ from a faraway land is touted as the new miracle food. It’s often credited with making you immortal and giving your skin a superhuman glow. Most times, these ingredients are also extremely expensive because of their transportation costs and the fact that they’re rare in your part of the world.

While these foods might be healthy, you really don’t have to mortgage your house to buy them. Local produce is often just as healthy as exotic ones. So ditch trendy new ingredients for your humble local fruits and vegetables, because you won’t be losing any health benefits in the process.
# Raw Isn’t Always Best

Proponents of the raw food diet claim that vegetables are at their most nutritious when they haven’t been exposed to heat. While this is true in some cases, it’s completely false for most vegetables. Our digestive system isn’t designed to eat a lot of raw foods. So while raw vegetables might have a higher nutritional profile, this isn’t nutrition that your body can utilize. Vegetables like tomatoes and carrots are actually healthier when cooked. As long as you don’t overcook your vegetables, there’s no reason you should force yourself to eat them raw.

# Juicing Isn’t All It’s Hyped Up To Be

Juicing has become the latest food trend, with every supermodel worth their name posing with one. Green juices, in particular, have been hailed as a life-changing elixir. So should you run out and buy yourself a juicer immediately? Probably not. Juicing results in extracting all of the sugar content from fruits and vegetables, while discarding their fiber. Fiber is the reason why the sugar in fruits and vegetables don’t spike your blood sugar. It is also extremely important for healthy digestion. You can blend fruits and vegetables into a smoothie as a healthier alternative to juicing.

# Should You Eat Only Seasonal Produce?

The answer to this question depends upon your priorities. If you’re only concerned about the health benefits, then you don’t have to eat only seasonal produce. As long as they aren’t full of preservatives, off-season produce is still extremely healthy. However, if your concern is for the environment or your budget, then you should probably stick to seasonal ingredients. Transporting produce from other places to your city results in pollution which is damaging to environment. Off-season produce is also more expensive since they aren’t readily available and need to be transported from somewhere else.

# Which Vegetables Are The Healthiest?

While each vegetable gets its moment in the sun at different points, the truth is they’re all just as healthy for you. So while pumpkin might be getting the most publicity right now, cauliflower and beans aren’t any less healthy. The important thing to remember is to have as much variety as you can. Each vegetable has a special nutritional profile. Getting a good mix of all of them is key to getting the most balanced health benefits.

# Don’t Stress About The Perfect Quantity

Trying to stick to specific measurements of vegetables can make eating a chore. Instead of all of that, just try to eat vegetables every single day. It doesn’t matter what your portion size is. If you’re eating vegetables every single day, then you’re definitely getting enough of nutrients from them. Just make sure you prepare them in a healthy way. Three servings of potato fries a day don’t count.