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April 10, 2007
Fruits & Veggies - More Matters
If knowledge leads to better behavior, we should be the healthiest nation on Earth. At least half the magazines at a newsstand have a health or nutrition story at the top of the page. Television and newspapers are not far behind. Some of the messages are confusing -- low fat vs. high fat, the good news about supplements, the bad news about supplements, and so on. Through all this confusion there is one consistent message that grows stronger with continuing research. Fruits and vegetables offer great taste and powerful disease-fighting phytochemicals. The 5 a Day campaign, encouraging us to eat five servings of produce a day, has been around for a long time. More than 50 percent of consumers know that they need five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
The disconnect is with the actual eating. Only about 10 percent of adults enjoy the recommended five a day. I have been around the food table a few times and I am surprised and disappointed that intake is so low.
It is now time for a second generation of fruit and vegetable campaigns, new slogans with new strategies. Goodbye 5 a Day. Get ready for "Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters.'' The key word is more. This campaign, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Produce for Better Health, is saying that all forms of fruits and veggies count, including fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100 percent juice.
Posted by Lisa at April 10, 2007 7:44 AM
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