{"id":6791,"date":"2024-10-18T13:16:04","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T20:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/?p=6791"},"modified":"2024-10-18T13:16:07","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T20:16:07","slug":"the-spookiest-fact-this-halloween-we-arent-eating-enough-fruits-veggies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/blog\/2024\/10\/18\/the-spookiest-fact-this-halloween-we-arent-eating-enough-fruits-veggies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spookiest Fact This Halloween: We Aren’t Eating Enough Fruits & Veggies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the spirit of Halloween, let\u2019s talk about something truly frightening \u2014 something that haunts our kitchens, pantries, and favorite restaurants. It\u2019s not a ghost, a goblin, or even a bad meal. It\u2019s the fact that the majority of Americans don\u2019t eat enough fruits and vegetables. According to a study by the CDC<\/a>, only 10% of Americans are getting enough vegetables in their diet, and just 12% are eating enough fruit. That\u2019s a pretty horrifying stat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much To Eat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we enjoy the treats and festivities of the season, it\u2019s important to remember that good nutrition is important for our students and families. That starts with making sure we\u2019re eating enough fruits and vegetables. According to the Children\u2019s Hospital of Colorado<\/a>, the recommended minimum amount for children ranges from one to two cups of fruit and one to three cups of vegetables, depending on their age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don’t fear! We\u2019ve got some tips for incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your family\u2019s diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips to Boost Your Family\u2019s Fruit & Vegetable Intake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Start the Day Right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Add a piece of fruit on the side, like an orange.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Top your oatmeal or yogurt with slices of banana or berries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • For a savory breakfast, toss some chopped vegetables \u2014 like spinach, tomatoes, or broccoli \u2014 into scrambled eggs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Blend up a smoothie packed with fruit to get a head start on your daily servings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Lunchtime Upgrades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Include a piece of fruit as a side, whether it\u2019s an apple, pear, or some grapes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Piling on the veggies in sandwiches like extra tomato slices, crunchy lettuce, or even avocado (though that’s actually a fruit!) can make a big difference in boosting your veggie intake.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Dinner Sides & Toppings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • When it\u2019s time for dinner, aim for at least one vegetable side dish, such as a side salad, roasted or grilled veggies, or even a veggie-packed soup. Include a variety of vegetable colors \u2014 greens, reds, oranges \u2014 to make the plate more exciting!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Add vegetable toppings to entrees like pasta, burritos, rice bowls, and even pizza! Spice it up with peppers or add some zest with onions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Snack Swaps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • Instead of reaching for chips or cookies, stock your kitchen with fresh fruit and veggie snacks. Carrot sticks, apple slices, and celery are all quick, healthy choices that everyone in the family can enjoy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Healthy Habits Start Early<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Fruits and veggies aren’t always going to be a kid’s go-to choice. Make the increase of fruits and vegetables in the house fun for your little ones by letting them pick out their favorites during grocery trips and incorporating those into meals. The earlier they develop healthy habits, the more likely they are to carry them into adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          This Halloween season, let\u2019s only be spooked by ghosts and monsters. With these simple tips, your family can start eating better and living healthier today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          In the spirit of Halloween, let\u2019s talk about something truly frightening. According to a study by the CDC, only 10% of Americans are getting enough vegetables in their diet, and just 12% are eating enough fruit. That\u2019s a pretty horrifying stat!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-announcements"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6791"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6798,"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6791\/revisions\/6798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.dusd.net\/foodservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}