Seasonal Fruits!

The summer is a wonderful time to stop eating sugary desserts and start eating fruits. Well you might say that fruits have sugar in them and they do! However, they also have Vitamins, Minerals, Fiber, Water and Antioxidants! People ages 19-50 are recommended to eat two cups of fruit per day! You might be thinking wow that is a lot of fruit, but really a small apple is about a cup of fruit. You may even be eating 2 cups or more without realizing it!

“According to the United States Department of Agriculture, people who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may have a reduced risk of developing chronic diseases, including stroke, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers. The fiber in fruit is important for normal bowel functioning and can help you feel fuller with fewer calories, whereas the vitamin C in fruit is necessary for the maintenance of all body tissues. Another naturally occurring fruit nutrient, potassium, may help you maintain a healthy blood pressure, says the USDA.” –Livestrong

It used to be that fruits and vegetables were more expensive to buy locally or organically but fruits are getting easier to come by all the time! Did you know some grocery stores even offer free fruit snacks if you are shopping with your kids?! Also, thanks to the Double Value Coupon Program SNAP Benefits are worth twice as much at the farmers’ market! You can eat health and support your local farmers! If you run out of SPAN benefits at any time during the month don’t forget that here at the Wallace Medical Concern PACS food pantry comes once a month to provide fresh produce as well as non-perishable items!