Why Are Fruits and Vegetables Good For You?

By Wes Fessler

There is no denying it...fruits and vegetables are good for your family. So what makes those powerful sources of bodily fuel so conducive to health when they can be so difficult to get the kids to eat?

The answers for health are relatively simple, but soloving the challenge of getting them into the mouths of children is a bit more challenging (but we have suggestions for that also).

Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants
In regard to health, fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. So what does that mean? You've heard all of that since your parents tried to get you to eat vegetables, right? Well, without getting into the specifics of each vitamin and what it does, here's a quick look at what these healthy treasures have to offer. Vitamins and minerals are substances needed by the body which it cannot produce on its own. Fruits and vegetables supply these nutrients and have for thousands of years to human beings. The human body utilizes vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables to support chemical reactions that are essential to sustained health. Antioxidants are molecules found in fruits and vegetables that help to slow the degeneration of cells. This promotes health by preventing damage to cells.

Health Benefits of Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and veggies are important for adults as well as children. A healthy varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables can help cells within the body to grow and propagate with optimal efficiency. Healthy cells offer resistance to diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. By promoting the health of cells within the body, one is able to enjoy greater resistance to illnesses and health problems than they would without them. Fruits and vegetables are indesputible treasures of human health.

Getting Kids to Like Fruits and Vegetables
So knowing that they are good for your family, how do you get kids to eat them? It is no challenge to get a child to eat a candy, cakes, and doughnuts, but for some reason there is often resistance foods that sprout up from the ground. Children have a tendency to love foods that offer the least nutritional value, but there are ways to give them an appetite for the "greens." See our article Making Fruits and Vegetables Fun to Eat for great ideas on getting kids to eat right and enjoy it.

It is very true that fruits and vegetables are irreplaceable and a valued source of nutrition for both parents and children. Eating right is an effort that the whole family can share and enjoy together.