Oct
Share the Fruits & Veggies Love and Win Some Cash!
As a dietitian, when I’m asked for tips for eating healthier, I always respond in one way: eat more fruits and vegetables. They’re naturally low in calories & fat and they’re packed with nutrients. Plus, the variety of colors makes your meal look so much more appealing!
The unfortunate reality is that most of us are not eating enough produce and as a result we’re failing to consume enough key nutrients in our diets. Fruits & veggies are such excellent sources of healthful nutrients that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 list “increase fruit and vegetable intake” as the first Key Recommendation. The “eat produce to stay healthy” message is underscored by the newly released food guidance icon MyPlate which encourages us to “Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.”
So while I truly enjoy sharing the health benefits of fruits & veggies until I’m blue in the face (or red or green or purple…you know how I love a rainbow of colors), I can’t do it all on my own. That’s why I was excited to learn about the MyPlate Fruits and Veggies Video Challenge.
The USDA is looking for other folks to use their creativity to create a short video demonstrating how easy it is to incorporate fruits & vegetables into your diet without breaking the bank. According to the MyPlate Fruits and Veggies Video Challenge site:
The goal of the Challenge is to encourage healthy eating habits and raise awareness about USDA’s MyPlate and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which include making half your plate fruits and vegetables, and to do it within a reasonable cost.
See the site for official rules, but they will be awarding a total of $9,000 in prizes in three categories:
- Tips for kids
- Tips when eating at home
- Tips when eating away from home
There are so many people out there who are far more creative (not to mention better in front of the camera) than I am and I can’t wait to see the results.
Could you and/or your family come up with a quick catchy jingle or entertaining skit promoting the benefits of eating fruits & veggies? I encourage you to submit a video today! The deadline is November 15th. If you submit a video, please share it with us here in the comments or on our Facebook page. I’d love to share them.
Disclaimer: I was in no way compensated for or asked to write this post. I just think it’s a fun contest and would love to see some Order Up readers featured in the Challenge.
