Tutti Fruitti

A big mantra in our house is "Eat Your Fruit!" My husband is a living breathing proponent of all things citrus. I'm serious, if we had the storage capacity, he would buy 64 oz. Del Monte Sunfresh Red Grapefruit containers by the pallet load. When we were first married, he valiantly tried to introduce me to fruit smoothies for breakfast. Let's just say it's been almost 15 years, and he's still trying... 

Me? I prefer vegetables... Lots & Lots of vegetables! I grew up on a farm with 2 gardens--both larger in acreage than my current city lot--in which we grew almost any vegetable you can imagine, and in such copious amounts that our storage demands required a canning cellar, a full size upright freezer, a 2nd basement refrigerator and cold storage locker rental in town. A partial list: Sweet corn, green beans, lima beans, wax beans, pole beans, summer squash, winter squash, butternut squash, acorn squash, hubbard squash, zucchinis, pumpkins, asparagus, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, yams, sweet peas, sugar snap peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, brussel sprouts, cucumbers, radishes, onions ... you catching my drift? We even grew some fruit: Tomatoes, Cantelopes, Honeydews, Watermelons, Blackberries, Red, Black & Gold Rasperries and Strawberries. When it was in season, we ate it, whether we liked it or not.  And what we couldn't consume, we prepped & stored for winter.

It was certainly a great start to eating right! And eating right has so many benefits:  

• A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar which can help keep appetite in check.
• Each fruit or vegetable has different beneficial nutrients, so the best strategy is to choose a variety every day. A colorful assortment is best, as different benefits exist in the color spectrum. 
• The water and fiber in fruits and vegetables will add volume to your dishes, so you can eat the same amount of food with fewer calories. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories and are filling.

It's been said, "An apple a day...keeps the doctor away." The old adage still rings true, but like so many things, it needs an adjustment to 'compensate for inflation'. 

Talk to me ... what were your 5 today?