Celebrate the season by skipping the canned and frozen aisles—June brings an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to grocery stores, farmers markets, and even your own garden. Make it an adventure by visiting a pick-your-own farm and enjoying the harvest firsthand. Savor every bite of nature’s bounty and share your favorites using #FreshFruitAndVegetableMonth on social media!
Fruits and vegetables play a vital role in a healthy eating plan. They’re naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, while being low in calories, saturated fat, and sodium. Some, like avocados, even offer heart-healthy fats your body needs. Eating a wide variety can help support a healthy weight, manage blood pressure, and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Plus, they provide essential nutrients many people fall short on—like calcium, fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamins A and C.
Adding color to every meal and snack is easier than you think!
Try these simple, practical tips, from the American Heart Association, that fit right into your family’s routine—no major changes needed:
- Pack portable, easy-to-eat fruits and veggies in your work or school bag and avoid vending machine temptations.
- Fill out a sandwich with fruits and veggies. Try sliced or shredded vegetables like beets, carrots, celery, cucumbers, onions, peppers, radishes, tomatoes and zucchini and/or sliced fruits like apple, avocado and pear.
- Make adding fruits and veggies to meals a snap by cutting them up and keeping them in the fridge. They’ll also be handy for snacking!
- When eating out, ask if you can substitute a fruit cup or side salad for fries and other less-healthy sides.
- Enjoy fruit for dessert most days and limit traditional sugar-sweetened desserts to special occasions.
- Keep a bowl of whole fruit handy on the desk, table or countertop.
- Eat the rainbow: A fun and tasty way to make sure your family is eating a good variety of fruits and vegetables is to eat as many different colors as you can each day.