Americans need to try harder to eat fruits, vegetables - Polidicks

[quote] The majority of Americans say they've been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables over the past year, according to a poll of 1,057 adults for the International Food Information Council Foundation. But most people are consuming less than half of what the government recommends. Kids and adults eat an average of a little more than a cup of vegetables a day and a little more than half a cup of fruit, according to the latest data from the NPD Group, a market research firm. Those numbers don't count french fries but do include other types of potatoes, such as baked and mashed. How much is enough? How many cups you should eat is based on your calorie intake, according to the government's dietary guidelines. Anyone who consumes 2,000 calories a day is supposed to eat 2½ cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit a day. A person who takes in about 1,400 calories a day should have about 1½ cups of fruits and the same amount of vegetables. "Children 2 through 12 and their parents are inching up in the amount they consume, but unfortunately, teens and the elderly are bringing the averages down," says Elizabeth Pivonka, president and CEO of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, a non-profit nutrition The reason for the push for an increased intake of fruits and vegetables is they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and other compounds that help fight disease, she says. But can anyone really eat three to 4½ cups from these two food groups each day? Pivonka says every little bit counts: raisins in cereal, frozen berries in smoothies, vegetables in soup, tomato sauce on spaghetti, beans in chili, veggies on sandwiches, 100% fruit juices. In general, one cup of raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice, or two cups of raw leafy greens, counts as one cup from the vegetable group. One cup (or one piece) of fruit or 100% fruit juice, or half a cup of dried fruit, is considered one cup from the fruit group. So if you eat an apple or banana, that counts as one cup of fruit for the day; a medium side salad could equal about one cup of vegetables. An easy way to reach the recommended amount is to make half your plate fruits and vegetables at every meal, as suggested by the government's MyPlate icon (choosemy plate.gov), says Rachel Begun, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, formerly the American Dietetic Association: "This is a visual that's easy to remember." Do the shopping To eat enough from these two food groups, you need to make sure your fridge and freezer are well-stocked, which may mean grocery shopping one or two times a week, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian in Chicago. "I like to buy pre-washed containers of leafy greens, trays of assorted cut veggies and bags of frozen vegetables for later in the week when my fresh produce is gone." She also likes to have leftover grilled veggies in the refrigerator in the spring and summer and roasted vegetables in the winter and fall. Cooking vegetables, including grilling or roasting them, often helps bring out natural flavors and sweetness, Blatner says. Consider the options When people tell her they don't like vegetables, Pivonka tells them that there are hundreds of different fruits and vegetables that can be prepared in thousands of different ways. "My daughter was 10 years old before I discovered that she liked cooked carrots instead of raw carrots." She says her group often hears from consumers who are concerned about cost. A government study showed you can eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables for $2 to $2.50 a day. "It's really a matter of priorities and how you spend your money," she says. "You can skip the soda when you eat out, and you've saved enough money to buy all your fruits and vegetables for the day." When it comes to both price and taste, it's often best to eat produce that's in season, Begun says: "There's a world of difference between a tomato from a local farm in late summer vs. one in January that was picked before its time and flown thousands of miles."[/quote] [url]http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-07-10/eating-fruits-and-vegetables-healthy/56118742/1[/url]

in other words why you should eat fruits, antioxidants = immortality!

[QUOTE=wanksta11;36704977]in other words why you should eat fruits, antioxidants = immortality![/QUOTE] Not breathing oxygen = immortality, at least according to chemistry.

"Americans need to try harder to eat fruits, vegetables" REALLY? I HAD NO CLUE. [editline]10th July 2012[/editline] Seriously though, I need to eat more fruit.

well with a highly capitalized food industry that highly focuses on advertising and poor-quality food in the US ofc something like this would be an issue

I eat fruits and vegetables everyday, and that isn't the problem. The problem is fruits and vegetables cost a lot. When I grocery shop I spend $40 dollars easily on apples, oranges, blueberries, etc. Where a lot of other people will just buy a few bags of chips for under $10 and call it good.

[QUOTE=wanksta11;36704977]in other words why you should eat fruits, antioxidants = immortality![/QUOTE] Another great snack for antioxidants is popcorn: low calorie (assuming you don't drown it in butter) and 100% whole grain and packed with antioxidants.

Start off small and start making bigger changes as you progress. Eating healthy can go along way. [QUOTE=JeanLuc761;36705666]Another great snack for antioxidants is popcorn: low calorie (assuming you don't drown it in butter) and 100% whole grain and packed with antioxidants.[/QUOTE] Assuming you don't salt it or butter it.

[QUOTE=Ownederd;36705601]well with a highly capitalized food industry that highly focuses on advertising and poor-quality food in the US ofc something like this would be an issue[/QUOTE] Most countries have "highly capitalized" food industries just like the US. And low fruit/vegetable intake is an issue globally. I'd say it's more of a cultural problem in the US, and the fact that school lunches are crap.

[QUOTE=demoguy08;36705688]Most countries have "highly capitalized" food industries just like the US. And low fruit/vegetable intake is an issue globally. I'd say it's more of a cultural problem in the US, and the fact that school lunches are crap.[/QUOTE] In the UK at least, there are always promotions on fruit. Sainsbury's adverts are usually entirely focussed on fruit/vegetables. America is locked in a backwards, outdated culture which could be solved but nobody there even wants to. They'd rather eat shit and run around with guns killing eachother or another country. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("flaming/trolling" - GunFox))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=AngryChairR;36705740]They'd rather eat shit and run around with guns killing eachother or another country.[/QUOTE] And blah blah blah, who the fuck wants to listen to you.

[QUOTE=AngryChairR;36705740]In the UK at least, there are always promotions on fruit. Sainsbury's adverts are usually entirely focussed on fruit/vegetables. America is locked in a backwards, outdated culture which could be solved but nobody there even wants to. They'd rather eat shit and run around with guns killing eachother or another country.[/QUOTE] Sorry bro, too obvious.

"Try harder", does this imply that they have tried previously but failed which requires more effort at fruit eating attempts? What did they do wrong anyway, try to eat bananas sideways?

[QUOTE=H4ngman;36705823]"Try harder", does this imply that they have tried previously but failed which requires more effort at fruit eating attempts? What did they do wrong anyway, try to eat bananas sideways?[/QUOTE] We try to teleport them into our stomachs using our feet. We end up stabbing ourselves with fruit. And I eat Bananas sideways, what's wrong with that?

[QUOTE=H4ngman;36705823]"Try harder", does this imply that they have tried previously but failed which requires more effort at fruit eating attempts? What did they do wrong anyway, try to eat bananas sideways?[/QUOTE] Nah, we just have too much cheap junk food (emphasis on 'cheap') that people have, perhaps unintentionally, replaced healthier foods with. To be honest, eating healthy would be a much easier task for most people if it didn't cost so much more than junk food does.

Who in their right mind wouldn't eat fruit if they can afford to? (Fruit is a bit expensive for a student where I live right now.)

We must deploy the Jamie Oliver. [IMG]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfroe_e006M/TF_OGc-YnwI/AAAAAAAAAuE/oFZA6Qu73kk/s1600/jamie-oliver.jpg[/IMG]

I like most fruits, and all vegetables that aren't squash.

[QUOTE=Hizan;36705897]We must deploy the Jamie Oliver. [IMG]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfroe_e006M/TF_OGc-YnwI/AAAAAAAAAuE/oFZA6Qu73kk/s1600/jamie-oliver.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Jamie Oliver taste like shit

while i am trying to increase my fruit/veggie intake, i have started taking a multivitamin called opti-men and I'm feeling so much better. then again with all the bullshit crammed into it why wouldn't i? i mean look at this: [url]http://www.optimen.com/[/url] no I'm not trying to sell anything but for people who really need to cut down on calories and expect to get the right amount of vitamins and minerals multivitamins is a necessity. on opti-men I've been able to lose 10 pounds in the last month. B vitamins up the ass too.

[QUOTE=AngryChairR;36705740]In the UK at least, there are always promotions on fruit. Sainsbury's adverts are usually entirely focussed on fruit/vegetables. America is locked in a backwards, outdated culture which could be solved but nobody there even wants to. They'd rather eat shit and run around with guns killing eachother or another country.[/QUOTE] I have lived in the U.S, the UK, and the Republic of Ireland. They all have a disgusting food industry. Hell, the UK is the fattest country in Europe if I do recall. Don't bring up stupid unrelated political melodrama, the UK is also a pretty shit place to live with the whole knacker infestation and ridiculous knife crime.

[QUOTE=AngryChairR;36705740]They'd rather eat shit and run around with guns killing eachother or another country.[/QUOTE] You hear that? That's the sound of all your credibility going straight out the window

[QUOTE=AngryChairR;36705740]run around with guns killing eachother or another country[/QUOTE] I want to DIE

Actually buying some fresh vegetables at a grocery store isn't all that expensive. The main problem is having time to actually cook your meal, time being something most working people can't afford. Fruits are way too expensive tho that's for sure.

snip

I love fruits and veggies, almost every day I go out to my garden and pick stuff for that days meals. I also live in a farming community so there is always fresh produce at the local markets and roadside stands. The problem for most Americans is like Quickkill said, the cost is outrageous. It is cheaper to buy three or four frozen meals than a bag of apples. I remember when I worked at a grocery store in high school a weeks worth of fruit and vegetables could take up almost a forth of my check.

if any of you are interested then you should look up river cottage veg or maybe pick up his book.

[QUOTE=-Get_A_Life-;36706705]Actually buying some fresh vegetables at a grocery store isn't all that expensive. The main problem is having time to actually cook your meal, time being something most working people can't afford. Fruits are way too expensive tho that's for sure.[/QUOTE] It also depends on where you live, some cities it is almost impossible to get fresh produce without going to a specialty store. I watched a lot of documentaries on America's current farming/food industry and in some major cities they where talking to entire classrooms where the students had never seen beans and carrots that where not from a can.

[QUOTE=Mr. N;36706591] the UK is also a pretty shit place to live with the whole knacker infestation and ridiculous knife crime.[/QUOTE] Harlem is safer to walk around at night then London :v:

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;36705847]We try to teleport them into our stomachs using our feet. We end up stabbing ourselves with fruit. And I eat Bananas sideways, what's wrong with that?[/QUOTE] Reminds me of this: [video=youtube;piWCBOsJr-w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piWCBOsJr-w[/video]