Why Do We Need Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are some of the best sources of the nutrients we need to grow and thrive. No one food or food group gives us all the nutrition we need. Eating a wide variety of foods, especially vegetables and fruits, helps us be healthier.
Here are just a few sources of these needed nutrients:
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
What it does: Produces energy in the body
What to eat: Mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus, spinach
Vitamin C
What it does: Helps our body make skin and blood vessels; maintains bones and teeth
What to eat: Cantaloupe, strawberries, broccoli, green and red peppers, leafy greens, tomatoes
Calcium
What it does: Builds strong bones and teeth
What to eat: Dairy products, as well as vegetables like broccoli, greens, and bok choy
Protein
What it does: Helps build muscles, bones, cartilage, skin, and blood; builds and repairs tissues
What to eat: Peas and beans, spinach, kale, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, broccoli