10 ways to get in your fruits and veggies

If you always leave the house with an apple (or another portable fruit that you like), you'll drastically reduce your chances of filling your belly at the vending machine when you get hungry and you'll add one serving of fruit to your day. Because we all need 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, a little planning ahead is required to make sure we don't replace those servings with convenience foods instead. Check out this list of 10 secrets to getting in your fruits and veggies, including my favorites:

• Never skip a meal, and always include one to two fruits and vegetables each time you sit and eat.
• Stock up! Portion sizes are an issue in overeating, but when it comes to veggies, piling them on adds vitamins and minerals and leaves less room on your plate for less nutritious options.
• Frozen and canned produce can be a nutritious alternative to freshly picked versions.
• Spice it up and use garlic, ginger, nutmeg, or cinnamon to bring out the flavor of your favorite plant foods.

Though 10 servings sounds like a lot, keep in mind that an adult serving is equal to a medium sized whole fruit or veggie, 1/2 cup chopped or cooked, 1/2 cup of juice, or a handful of dried fruit.