Fruits and vegetables are the cornerstones of a healthy diet. They’re naturally low in calories and fat, and contain powerful nutrients that may prevent heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Nutritionists recommend at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables a day.
Easy tips for adding more fruits and veggies to your diet
- Start your day by sprinkling dried or fresh fruit on hot or cold cereals, or use fruit to top yogurt.
- Make a snappy snack or meal by serving a low-fat dip with Giant Eagle® vegetables.
- Pick up a container of pre-cut fruit at Giant Eagle® and add cottage cheese or yogurt.
- At either lunch or dinner each day, substitute a salad for a main dish.
- Add mixed greens, tomatoes, or pepper slices to wrap sandwiches.
- Add chopped peppers, onions, and mushrooms to an omelet or scrambled eggs.
- Add chopped vegetables or shredded cabbage to soup for hearty flavor and nutrition.
- Serve pasta dishes with an assortment of fresh or lightly cooked vegetables.
- Steam, grill, roast, microwave or stir-fry vegetables to get maximum nutritional value.
Keep your produce safe
Practice safe food handling to protect your family from food-borne infections. These tips will help you get maximum health benefits from Giant Eagle® produce:
- Buy only fruits and vegetables free of breaks in the skin.
- Buy only fruits and vegetables stored correctly. For example, cut fruits such as melons and mangoes should be stored in refrigerated cases.
- Rinse your fruits and vegetables under cold, running water.
- Never bleach produce or wash it with detergent — these cleaning products are not safe to eat. If you wish to wash produce more thoroughly, use a specially designated produce-washing solution.
- If your fruits or vegetables have firm skins, use a soft brush to gently remove dirt.
- Dry your produce and refrigerate it after washing.
- Before cutting produce, wash and sanitize the surfaces and utensils you’ll use. Afterwards, wash and sanitize those items again.
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