Written for the Alameda Sun Jan 04 edition 2004
Everyone knows by now that five servings of fruit and vegetables every day is the way to maintain
good health. But did you know that five to nine servings is ideal and that eating multiple colors of
fruit and vegetables should be in the mix as well? According to the Produce for Better Health
Foundation, The National Cancer Institute, merican Heart Association, American Diabetes
Association, the American Stroke Foundation, the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute,
the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and several
other organizations a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is essential to maintaining good health and
helpful in preventing the onset of several cancers, heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure,
strokes and diabetes.
In this current diet crazed climate that we find ourselves in, one thing that has always been- remains;
fruits and vegetables are where it's at if you want to lose and/or maintain a certain amount of
weight. The produce industry has made it easier over the past decade to do just that. Almost every
item on the produce stand is available year round and if you're not satisfied with the quality that
you find on the rack, there are perfectly fresh packaged items available with a wide variety.
Let's take a closer look at some of the packaged items that you will find in the produce department. Besides salad mixes, (that category alone is humungous) there are several newer items available both
conventionally and organically grown. Washed and cut greens such as kale, collards, and mustard.
A mix of mustard, turnip and chard is available well. Broccoli coleslaw produced by Mann Packing
one of the largest broccoli growers in California is a real winner. Hearts of broccoli stems along with
shredded carrots makes a great alternative to those who do not enjoy cabbage. If you do enjoy
cabbage, well there's a great mix of red & green cabbages with shredded carrots. Volpi Farms from
the Delta growing region not too far from Alameda offers (when in season) fresh diced asparagus
spears 100% organic. There are several other standard vegetable offerings such as broccoli& cauliflower with peeled carrots, now add snow or snap peas, bok choy, and some cut bell peppers
to it and you have a stir fry mix ready for the wok.
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Other more unusual items along with fresh cut fruit are offered to the stores by companies like Renaissance Foods out of Rancho Cordova just above Sacramento. Phil Fendyan Director of Sales
and Marketing for the company told me about some of the new items " Pico Di Gallo consists of diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro and peppers and is available in retail and foodservice packages." Phil went on to boast "But the most popular is our tropical mix with pineapple, mango, papaya,
cilantro and red peppers. It is great as a salsa and even better with fish." Phil made sure to hype up their fresh stuffed portabella mushrooms, just open the package and pop them in the oven. Fresh bean dip platters and of course the old stand by cut banana squash is also available.
So if you are having time management issues that get in the way of attaining your five to nine a day,
there are plenty of time saving fresh produce items already cut,
washed and in some cases, everything but cooked, waiting for you in local produce department fresh cut section. If that doesn't work for you then maybe this will. Recent studies have shown that frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh. Now we really
have no excuse. So make the resolution now to get 5 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables every day the easy and convenient way in 2004.
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