3 Ways to Consume More Fruits and Veggies

By Toriyan Wallace
Intern

Want to increase your fruit and vegetable intake? Can’t find a way to incorporate it into your diet? Luckily, there are ways to get the most out of your fruit and vegetable purchases. Help make your produce more inviting to work with and last longer while cutting prep time with these tips!

Tip #1 : Choose Wisely

 Look for produce without blemishes such as bruises, bug holes, mold and wilting.

Tip #2 : Conscious Crisping 

Some produce releases a gas called ethylene that you want to hold in the drawer with a closed vent and other produce items are ethylene-sensitive that keep best with an open vent. Most refrigerators have two different drawers labeled for fruits and vegetables, ensuring that you are storing your produce properly!

Tip #3 : Store Smartly

Wrap leafy greens in a dry paper towel and place in an open plastic bag so they don’t become wet, wilted and turn into mush before you have a chance to eat them all. Have root vegetables like beets? Cut the greens off from the top and store that portion as any other leafy green and the remaining bulbs separate.

Ripening produce, such as avocados, mangos, pears and stone fruit like plums, peaches and nectarines, should stay at room temperature until they’re ready to consume. Extend the shelf-life of ripening produce and store in the crisper drawer with the vent closed once they’re ready to consume from ripening on the counter top.

For unique items like berries and whole melons, the solutions are simple- keep them as is until enjoying. This means berries should be stored unwashed in their original container in the open vent crisper drawer in the refrigerator. Whole melons such as honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon can be stored, uncut, at room temperature or in a cool, dark place.

Source : Mind-Blowing Hacks - Have A Plant (fruitsandveggies.org)