Summer is an economical time to eat more fruits and vegetables: Take the fruit and veggie challenge
Jackson is recognized as a healthy city, but many of us still have plenty of room for improvement. Since the summertime is a really economical time to eat in-season fruits and vegetables, UT Extension is challenging local residents to participate in a six-week challenge to replace a processed food with a fruit or vegetable. The challenge changes slightly each week to allow participants to try a variety of fruits and non-fried vegetables while avoiding certain processed foods.
“Eating more fruits and non-fried vegetables has been shown to decrease some types of cancer. Replacing processed foods with these can also help with issues related to diabetes and heart disease. Even if you already do well with eating fruits and veggies, you can participate and encourage friends, family and co-workers,” said Amy Elizer, UT-TSU Extension County Director for Madison County. “It’s said that habits are changed when we stick with them for 3-4 weeks. This challenge gives people 6 weeks to focus on eating more fruits and vegetables.” At the end of program participants will report back how they did. “Many people like to have a form of accountability. We’re offering that with this program as well,” Elizer said.
In addition to changing weekly challenges, such each week focusing on a different color of fruit or vegetable, there are weekly prizes for the online challenge where program participants can post pictures of new foods they are trying or pictures of recipes they have made to the Extension office’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/madisoncountyextension/ with the hastage #FVCJackson. Whoever gets the most likes for the week will receive a small gift card to purchase more fruits and vegetables.
To join the 6-week program send an email to aelizer@utk.edu or go straight to the online registration at https://utk.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1UhRpm2YPm0Xx7T&Q_JFE=0.
