eat your colors every day! - produce for better health foundation

Eat Your Colors Every Day!By Shelly Terry, MS ED, SFNS, PBH School Foodservice Consultant

E D U C A T I N G S T U D E N T S O N F R U I T S A N D V E G E T A B L E S

The health benefits of eating a variety of fruitsand vegetables are welldocumented. Still, less than15% of children eat therecommended number ofservings of fruit and lessthan 20% eat the recom-mended servings of vegetables. On averagechildren eat 3.5 servings offruits and vegetables daily.

Use the five color group-ings of the 5 A Day The Color Way model,shown on the right, to promote the health benefitsof eating fruits and vegeta-bles of different colors.

Offer fruits and vegetablesin a variety of colors toprovide the wide range ofvitamins, minerals, fiber,and phytochemicals thebody needs to maintaingood health.

The five color categoriesare blue/purple, green,white, yellow/orange, andred. Each color makes aunique contribution to

maintaining health and alower risk of developingchronic diseases.

BLUE/PURPLEBlue/Purple helps maintainlower risk of some cancers,promotes urinary tracthealth, maintains memoryfunction, and supportshealthy aging.

GREENGreen helps maintainlower risk of some cancers,promotes vision health,and supports strong bonesand teeth.

WHITEWhite helps maintain alower risk of some cancers,and healthy cholesterollevels, promotes hearthealth, and supports ahealthy immune system.

YELLOW/ORANGEYellow/Orange help main-tain a lower risk of somecancers; health heart andvision health, and supports a healthy immune system.

REDRed helps maintain a lowerrisk of some cancers; hearthealth, urinary tract health,and memory function.

See the “Tips” column tohelp your students developmore healthful eatinghabits. Encourage them toselect and eat fruits andvegetables of different colors that are offered aspart of the meal.

TipsHelp Students Eat More Fruitsand Vegetables

RECIPES - Daily◆ Use recipes that contain fruits

and veggies.◆ Go to:

www.ed.state.nh.us/education/doe/organization/programsupport/bnps/cookbook.pdf

◆ Go to: www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/recipes/schrecipes.htm*Click on Recipes by Food Group*Scroll to Fruits/Vegetables/Nuts/Grains*Select recipes

◆ Go to: http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov/Recipes/index.html#recipes*Click on Recipes from Industry and Growers*Select recipes

MENUS - Weekly◆ Feature “Color of the Week”

fruit and veggies on the menu.◆ Highlight featured fruit and

veggies items on the menu.

NUTRITION EDUCATION -Monthly◆ Post information about the

health benefits of eating a colorful variety of fruits and veggies on menus and menu boards.

◆ Go to www.5aday.org*Click on the color wheel graphic *Scroll for information

Health Benefits of Eating Your Colors

©2005 Produce for Better Health Foundation 417-0105

volume 3, 2005

Contact Produce for Better HealthFoundation School Foodservice

5341 Limestone RoadWilmington, DE 19808p. 302.235.2329f. 302.235.5555e-mail. schoolfs@pbhfoundation.org

www.pbhfoundation.orgwww.5aday.org