Find easy ways to increase your fruit and vegetable intake.

Trying to balance your diet? Turn to healthy fruits and vegetables. According to the CDC, fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that are important for good health. Try these simple tips for adding fruits and veggies to your daily diet.

Shop seasonally
Eat what’s in season when you can. This is when fruit is freshest and tastiest. Try picking up local items at a farmers market.

Rely on frozen foods
Frozen isn’t a dirty word. In fact, simple bags of frozen vegetables can quickly jazz up a meal. Add some diced veggies to your pasta sauce or steam up a bag for a quick and easy side.

Make smoothies
Smoothies can taste delicious with fruits and vegetables. Using a healthy base, such a skim or soy milk, blend frozen fruits, fresh uncooked spinach and healthy additives such as ground flax seed.

Mix it up
Add vegetables to other dishes instead of eating them as a side. Simmer some lima beans in your sauces. Top your pizza with vegetables. Blend zucchini and bake it in your bread and muffins.

Grill them up
Grill or broil veggies with a light seasoning and olive oil. This will give them a delicious taste without adding too many extra calories or fats to your meal.

Snack on fruit
Sliced fresh fruit for a good-for-you snack. Try topping your cereal or oatmeal with healthy fresh fruit or dried fruit with no added sugars. Prepare your fruit a few days ahead of time, keeping it fresh in sealed containers in your fridge for on-the-go snacking.

Want to learn more about eating right and staying healthy? Be sure to talk to your doctor. And if you need a physician referral, just call Lawnwood Regional Medical Center's free Consult-A-Nurse service at 1-800-446-6956. Our staff is available 24/7.

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