This summer include local fruits and vegetables in your diet.  You’ll be treated to produce that is great to eat and fun to buy.  Roadside markets, pick your own farms and community farmers markets specialize in locally grown items at the peak of freshness.  Finding them can be easy if you go online to roadside markets, pick your own farms and community farm markets.  For more information on Jersey Fresh produce, including recipes and hints for great selection tips, visit http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/.

Why fruit and vegetables?  A wide variety of colorful produce can provide your body with a number of health-promoting benefits, such as vitamins, minerals and fiber.  It’s important to eat a wide variety of colorful vegetables and fruits every day.

• Compared to people who eat only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more general amounts – as part of a healthy diet – are likely to have a reduced risk of chronic diseases.  These diseases include stroke, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer and perhaps heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories, so substituting them for high-calorie foods can be a calorie-reducing strategy.

For more information on fruits and vegetables, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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