Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
|
|
Extension Communications |
2/24/04
For immediate release
Contacts:
Lynn Allen, Lighten Up Iowa Coordinator, (515) 707-1832, lynn@iowagames.org
Tim Lane, Iowa Department of Public Health, (515) 281-7833, tlane@idph.state.ia.us
Ruth Litchfield, Ph.D.,R.D.,ISU Food Science and Human Nutrition, (515) 294-9484,
litch@iastate.edu
Diane Nelson, ISU Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-3178, dinelson@iastate.edu
Lighten Up Iowa Teams Vie for Fruit and Vegetable Awards
AMES, Iowa---Lighten Up Iowa and Go the Distance teams have a new incentive for eating fruits and vegetables during the month of March. The 5 A Day theme is being promoted with weekly drawings for twenty-five $10 gift certificates redeemable for fresh fruit and vegetable trays from local HyVee stores. Each week 20 Lighten Up Iowa adult teams and 5 Go the Distance youth teams will receive a gift certificate.
"All Lighten Up Iowa teams that average five servings of fruits and vegetables per day per team member and all Go the Distance teams reporting their mileage for January and February will be placed in weekly drawings," said Ruth Litchfield, Iowa State University Extension nutritionist. "Currently, only one-fifth of adults and children in Iowa meet the 5 A Day recommendation by eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day."
The 5 A Day program promotes public awareness that eating fruits and vegetables can help decrease risk for heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, and other chronic diseases, as well as provide important vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals that provide numerous health benefits. Litchfield offers these tips for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.
* Eat one fruit, vegetable or 100-percent juice at every meal and plan one or two fruit or vegetable snacks per day
* Set a bowl of pre-washed fruit or small bags of dried fruit on the kitchen counter for grab-and-go snacks
* Designate a veggie snack spot in the refrigerator and keep filled with baby carrots, pepper strips, broccoli and celery
* Serve lettuce or spinach salad and carrots with carry-out pizza or burgers
* Serve applesauce or canned apricots with pancakes and French toast
* Stir fresh or frozen vegetables into pasta, rice, noodles, soups or omelets
* Whip up smoothies from fresh or frozen berries, canned fruit, ice, and yogurt
The Lighten Up Iowa and Go the Distance programs are co-sponsored by Iowa State University Extension, Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Games. To receive a weekly email with additional ideas, recipes and activities visit the Iowa State University Food and Nutrition Extension Web site at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/nutrition.
-30-
ml: imajor