Most people are not getting enough fruits and vegetables, despite the fact that there is such a large variety to choose from. Here are some great tips for how you can get pack more healthy fruits and vegetables into your life for a number of added health benefits that will help you loose weight and improve your overall health.

Tip #13 - Create your very own garden. Many people end up taking pride in the produce that they are able to grow, even children. This is going to make you much more likely to eat the produce that you produce. Grow some of your favorite fruits, vegetables and herbs in your very own backyard garden and it will become easier for you to enjoy those foods once you have learned to grow and cultivate them.

Tip #14 - Choose raw fruits and raw vegetables rather than pretzels, chips and other salty and fattening snacks. When you have fresh, raw fruits and vegetables on hand, it makes snacking a lot easier and healthier because you have healthy snack choices on hand and do not have to make any difficult decisions about what you are going to eat. Keep peas, raisins, carrots and sugar snap peas in your desk at work, your backpack or your car for a quick and healthy snack any time that you need one.

Tip #15 - Make more vegetables than you need when you are cooking them for meals. When cooking a meal involving vegetables, cook between 2 and 3 times more vegetables than you actually need. Store the extra vegetables away for tomorrow. When the vegetables are more convenient for you to prepare because they are already cooked, you will be much more likely to eat them.

Tip #16 - Do not forget about dried fruit varieties. They are just as portable as other types of snacks, but they are often far less messy. There are plenty of no-sugar-added or sugar free varieties of dried fruit. Keep your portions small, though, because calories coming from dried fruit can sometimes add up more quickly than you realized.

Tip #17 - Add berries to your breakfast. You can top ordinary cereals, oatmeal, waffles and pancakes with a hand full of fresh berries and you will be starting your day with a nice serving of fresh fruit. Other good fruits that pair well with these particular breakfast foods include apricots, raisins and bananas.

Tip #18 - Support local farmers by purchasing a wide variety of seasonal, local and organic produce at the local farmer's market in your area. The food here will be fresher, riper and much less expensive than if you are buying food that travels over a long distance to get to your local grocery store.

Photo Credits: pizzodisevo

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