Interactive game helps consumers eat more fruits and vegetables
Planning an economical, easy to cook meal can be difficult enough without the added pressure of making sure that it includes the correct balance of fruits and vegetables. So, the Centers for Disease Control has developed an interactive tool to help consumers evaluate the nutritional balance of the foods on their plate. The game is colorful, easy to play, and fun for both kids and adults. Analyze My Plate asks users to drag and drop menu items onto a virtual plate and then analyzes the meal for total calories, total fat and cups of fruits and vegetables. The tool helps encourage eaters to include more fruits and vegetables in their meals every day.
The amount of fruits and vegetables required for each person varies based on age, gender and activity level. The CDC main page includes a calculator for assessing each user’s personal needs. General USDA guidelines, however, suggest that adults consume at least 5 cups of fruits and vegetables each day. Recommendations for children range from 1-2 cups per day of fruit, and 3/4- 3 cups per day of vegetables. It is estimated that only about 11% of all Americans get their recommended dose of fruits and vegetable each day.
In addition to providing a lean source of calories, fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Many fruits such as apples, and many vegetables such as broccoli or kale also provide fiber. A high fiber diet has been proven to lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease, and has been linked to a decreased risk of colon cancer.
