We’re sure you’ve heard time and time again how important it is to eat a balanced diet, filled with the nutritious foods that are included in the five food groups. But let us ask you this – do you know why it’s so important and why these food groups are so essential?
Today, we’re going to dive into one of the food groups and explain a little bit more about its importance to give you a better understanding about why these particular foods are so good for you. We bet you can guess which one we’re going to talk about, but if not, the answer is fruit. Here’s why you need to eat more of it:
Fruits are low in both fat and calories.
You don’t have to be actively watching what you eat to know that consuming too many calories and too much fat isn’t good for you. The good news here is that fruit is low in both! That said, by turning to fruit more when snacking rather than other sweets, you’ll be keeping your body in check.
Fruits are filled with vitamins.
Vitamins and minerals play a huge role in our body’s ability to thrive, and they are especially important for younger children as their bodies start development. For example, fruit offers vitamin C, which is essential for the immune system. Additionally, fruit is known to provide a good deal of potassium, which aids in keeping blood pressure at the right level!
Fruits are a great source of fiber.
Did you know that the average adult only eats about 15 grams of fiber each day? That may seem like enough, but women actually need 25 grams per day and men need 38. That’s where fruit comes in! Since fiber helps regulate our digestive system, an extremely important part of our bodies, it’s critical that we all work on eating the recommended about on a daily basis.
Fruit may reduce risk for disease.
When you eat enough fruit (and vegetables – don’t forget about your veggies too!), you’ll be helping your body potentially fight off diseases. For example, eating enough fruit can help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease.
Fruit is easy to eat and delicious!
Aside from all of the major health benefits that fruit brings, let’s not forget that it’s easy to transport (meaning you can eat it on-the-go if needed), and it’s extremely delicious! There’s nothing like biting into a fresh apple or juicy watermelon, and you can certainly get creative if you want some added flavor (chocolate covered strawberries, anyone?).
All that said, do you need a little more fruit in your life? Instead of eating it alone, grab some friends and munch on your favorite fruits together! Fruit bouquets can contain several different fruits so that there’s something for everyone to enjoy, and they certainly include enough to go around!
