And, you can’t count French fries. We are in a fruit and vegetable consumption crisis. Almost no one in the US meets the recommendation for 5 or more fruits and vegetable servings each day. Close to 80% eat too few fruits – even in the middle of the summer when fresh fruit is everywhere. Over 90% shun vegetables on a regular basis, especially men and younger adults.
And trends are not improving. Americans have decreased their fruit and vegetable intake by nearly 10% since 2004. This amounts to a loss of at least one fruit or vegetable serving each week. That doesn’t sound so bad you are thinking? But sadly, it is. If you look at this through the lens of behavioral science, which places a premium on repetition to form habits. Without repetition, eating fruits and vegetables regularly, you cannot achieve lasting behavior change. In fact, the opposite happens. The fewer times you eat fruits or vegetables, the less likely you are to select them for a meal or snack and the number of times either is eaten, over a given period of time, goes down.
Do you want to be healthy? Do you want to be slimmer? Would you like to go to the doctor less often? Here is the simplest prescription for all. Eat fruits and vegetables. Start small. Eat just one serving each day for one week. Week two eat 2 servings. Week three, 3 servings. And, week 4, 4 servings. Remember repetition creates habits and habits create change.
