Show Good Variety Vegetables ruit Available There are arc many interesting facts acts about fruits and vegetables that may prove pro interesting or important to you jou ou as a 3 home- home maker Nature has packed them with the nutrients our bodies hodies need for growth grO and health They play an indispensable role in the human diet die lief There arc are fresh fruits and vegetables available 3 to the America American Am Am- erica n homemaker This includes es 59 vegetables and and 43 fruits They can be he found in substantial supply during e every month of the year This is due to modem modem mod mod- em em h distribution facilities and packaging The Thc top month of supply is July when hen as many manyas as 31 n items are arc at their peak May lay and June are arc also good months Of all the thc food eaten by Am Mn Americans more than a fourth is s fresh Cresh fruit and vegetables About 70 billion pounds of fresh produce is used by the U. U S S. S each year of the total food consumed consumed con con- more than a fourth is made up of fresh produce The Thc average a American eats cats approximately approximately pounds of fresh produce produce produce pro pro- duce each year I Leading nutritionists ts say that I this this is not adequate They say that hat the average a American needs at least pounds more fresh ruts frutis and vegetables a year For a balanced diet the requirement is 54 51 pounds of fresh produce for the best diet pounds rounds is necessary Fresh produce contains very large larg amounts of the the vitamins and minerals which aid growth and nd protect health V Virtually all fresh fruits and vegetables contain con con- contain tain these protective elements L Leafy afy green and yellow ellow vegetables vegetables ables are rich in vitamin A citrus cit cit- rus ius fruits and tomatoes in vitamin vita vita- Olin min C and calcium It is possible to eat cat fresh fruits and vegetables raw Poor cooking techniques destroy nutrients nutrients nu nut to some extent and so it is desirable to improve procedures pro and to eat as many fruits and vegetables raw as possible The fhe best way to save nutrients nutrients nutrients in cooking is to handle with care Dont Don't crush or bruise Dont Don't soak them in water Keep most kinds in the refrigerator until read ready for use Use them themas as quickly as possible after preparation Cook as quickly as possible in boiling water using as little water as you can Use the water vegetables were cooked cooked cooked cook cook- ed in for tor soups and sauces |