You hear a certain glee in the voices of food companies, if they could talk. They want to help people get their 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables.
While vegetables occasionally make a presence, food companies usually take the easy way out and go the fruit route.
But fruit is much easier for people to get and eat than vegetables. Even in food deserts, fruit is still easier to find and enjoy, by comparison.
I was reflecting on this in noting last week's take on the new fruit puree products from Pepsi/Tropicana from the Colbert Report.
Fruit products are easier to do because fruit contains natural sugar, even if fruit products are easily manipulated to be sweeter than they need to be. Even if the label says cranberry or mango, high sugar fruit juices — such as apple and grape — are high on the list of ingredients.
Outside of carrots, vegetables don't have that level of sweetness.
Perhaps, asking Americans to absorb vegetables in a fun way is virtually impossible (in this context) since companies can't make a product sweet enough for consumers' American sweet tooth.
Despite Pepsi's attempt to improve fruit eating — through purchases from large corporations, you are better off eating fruits and vegetables as they are. As Colbert noted, apples come in their own edible skin. Amazing!!
Making vegetables more fun may be beyond the interest of large corporations, but you can do your part, even if it requires more work. Cutting your own veggies, packing a dip (preferably homemade) may not be as cool as brightly colored pouches, but the fun you'll get is eating vegetables without unnecessary sugar.
And making your own homemade dip/dressing allows great flexibility and a chance to make it to your own taste. Some buttermilk, fat-free yogurt and (optional) mayonnaise makes a great base.
Its true. Fruits are fruits because it can be served by itself even without other stuffs added to it or the fruit being processed is also inappropriate.
Posted by: Plumbing | July 09, 2011 at 01:45 PM
Thanks for healthy post. Make vegetables more fun not to exceed the interest of big business, but you can do a party, even if it requires more work.
Posted by: best clin | September 26, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Fruit are easier to do because the fruit contains natural sugar, fruit products, even can be easily manipulated to be softer than they need.
Posted by: שתלים | October 03, 2011 at 06:01 AM
So true, fruits are easy to get and very handy. You can eat fruits without cooking it and wherever you are.But lets not compare fruit and veges, both are good for our health.
Posted by: Idol Asyang | June 05, 2012 at 02:34 AM
Fruits are good for our health. And its very handy. Eat fruits anywhere, anytime at any condition. :D
Posted by: Nestor | June 11, 2012 at 04:43 AM