"fruits and vegetables" news and stories

Americans may be polarized on a lot of issues these days, but it seems we can pretty much agree on one thing: we don't like broccoli. Or kale. Or, really, vegetables and fruit of any stripe.

Despite years of public-health campaigns aimed at getting us to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, a recent study by the Centers of Disease Control has found that most of us -- the vast majority, in fact -- are still treating spinach like a bunch of picky toddlers.

The state-by-state analysis found that, overall, only about a third of American adults consume two or more servings of fruit per day, while just over a quarter eat three or more servings of vegetables.

To say that this falls a little short of the CDC's goal would be like saying home prices in 2005 were just a tad inflated: the agency had hoped that by now, 75 percent of adults would be eating the right amount of fruit while 50 percent would be eating enough vegetables.

The end of the summer can be distressing and sad. There are those of us who go back to school, and others who must say farewell to Summer-Fridays. There'll be fewer berries, nectarines, peaches, and plums. However, while we feel a nostalgia for summer produce, we can look forward to the colorful and delicious autumn harvest.

Below are 8 fruits and vegetables to anticipate this fall:

1. Figs - All year, we can enjoy dried figs. But, from now until early fall, markets sell the fresh tender succulent inverted flowers. The juiciness of these fresh figs tastes remarkable. And, from the perspective of a nutritionist, they have an extra high fiber content.
2. Pomegranate - The fruit alone looks gorgeous as a centerpiece. They can last up to three months if stored in the fridge. Its seeds are deliciously sweet, savory, and tart. And, they can be thrown into a salad or made into a sauce.
   
3. Grapes - We take them for granted the most since we can purchase them year-round. They're harvested in the fall. And so, you'll find a variety of different plump fragrant kinds, such as Thompson seedless, red globe, and Concord during fall.
   
4. Apples - Ah, the variety of apples we're about to see! There's 2,000 types grown in the U.S. My favorite are McIntosh. Besides savoring them plain, you can enjoy them in a pie, sauce, pancake, or cake.
   
5. Pears - Like apples, there are several varieties. Warm and soft poached pears are one of my favorite autumnal treats.
   
6. Squash - Thinking of the fall harvest conjures up images of dark green acorn squash, butternut squash, and of course bright orange pumpkins. I adore the sweetness butternut squash adds to a dish.
   
7. Parsnips - They are scrumptious in any roast vegetable mixture. Parsnips look like a white version of their orange springtime cousin, the carrot. Their flavor is brought out by being roasted, baked, or fried.
   
8. Cauliflower - It's in abundance during fall. Besides cooking it in boiling water and eating it plain with butter, you can transform it into a creamy sweet mashed vegetable dish.
   

What sorts of images of fruits and vegetables does autumn evoke for you?

By August, I usually find myself exhausted by the constant oppressive summer heat. The sweltering heat drains all the energy out of my body and leaves me walking to work sluggishly. To combat this end-of-summer lethargy, I hydrate myself throughout the day by drinking water.

Drinking water is not the only way you can refuel your body during the summer. Many fruits and vegetables can help you meet 20 percent of your daily fluid needs. Also, doctors have proven that a diet rich in H20-loaded foods can prevent dehydration and foster a feeling of fullness without adding too many extra calories. Below are 8 fruits and vegetables that can help recharge your body:

1. Watermelons
2. Cucumbers
3. Bell peppers
4. Pineapple
5. Lettuce
6. Tomatoes
7. Apples
8. Citrus fruits

What are some other fruits and vegetables you eat in the heat to prevent dehydration?

The salad season has begun for me, and I noticed these new Wish-Bone Bountifuls salad dressings at the supermarket the other day. They're flavorful, low fat, low calorie dressings that have real pieces of vegetables and fruits in them.

Sound good? Well, you can go to the store and buy a bottle of the dressing, then log in to their web site and sign up to get a mail-in rebate. The offer is good between May 30 and June 1 only.

While you're at the site, you can also plant a "digital garden." It's part of Wish-Bones campaign to get people to eat more salads and get healthier. The nature sound effects at the site are rather relaxing...

If you had asked me 15 years ago what I thought the healthiest foods were, I probably would have said salad, pasta, bread, rice, and water. If you had asked me 35 years ago, I probably would have said Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Quisp cereal, pretzels, Pepsi, and Sara Lee pound cake.

We all know better now, of course (for example, Sara Lee pound cake should only be eaten 20 or so times a week), but do we really know what the healthiest foods are? We've talked a lot about healthy foods before, but never like what you'll see after the jump...in video form! The video isn't the best quality, and waiting 30 seconds for the next food to be listed is rather annoying, but the info is interesting. Besides, it's like a game. You can take those 30 seconds to place bets with your friends! What will be next in the video...apricots? Avocados? Broccoli? Read on...