North Carolina joins national launch of a new
public health initiative,
Fruits & Veggies—More Matters™
RALEIGH—Although research indicates that more than half of adults
know they need to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables
per day, fewer than 10 percent of all Americans actually do it. To
encourage North Carolinians to eat more fruits and veggies, a new national
public health initiative, Fruits & Veggies—More Matters™,
was introduced at an event held at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh
today.
Fruits & Veggies—More Matters™ was created to encourage
Americans to eat more fruits and veggies in all forms – fresh,
frozen, canned, dried and “100 percent” juice.
Increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables appears to help
prevent many chronic diseases. Replacing the old 5 A Day program, Fruits & Veggies—More
Matters™ focuses on motivating people to simply eat more fruits
and veggies at every eating occasion. The new initiative spotlights
the taste, nutrition, abundant variety and different forms of fruits
and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, canned and dried produce and “100
percent” juices.
"We want all North Carolinians to know about this important health
initiative,” said Diane Beth, state fruit and vegetable nutrition
coordinator. “While Americans seem to know about the health benefits
of eating fruit and veggies, most people would need to at least double
the amount they currently consume in order to meet the new dietary
guidelines. The idea behind Fruits & Veggies—More Matters
is that, whether a person currently eats 1, 4 or 8 servings of fruits
and veggies a day, he or she will benefit from eating more—more
matters.”
Speaking in support of the new initiative at the launch event were
state leaders Steve Troxler, commissioner of agriculture; Dr. Leah
Devlin, state health director; and Dr. Marcus Plescia, representing
the N.C. Medical Society. Local farmer Fred Miller spoke about the
importance of locally grown, nutritious produce, and Avien Blackman,
Raleigh’s first “Fruits & Veggies Star Mom,” told
how she learned to keep her family healthy by using fruits and vegetables
in everyday meals and snacks.
The event also featured nutrition experts, cooking demos, taste testings,
food carving and garnish demos, door prizes, and activities for families.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the N.C.
Division of Public Health partnered to host the launching of North
Carolina Fruits & Veggies—More Matters™. Other sponsors
included the State Farmers Market, Food Lion, Duke University Dining
Program, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Lowes Foods, N.C. Medical Society
and Wake County Human Services.
Other events are planned throughout the week in Charlotte, Greenville,
Wilmington, and in the counties covered by the Appalachian District
Health Department.
The nationwide Fruits & Veggies—More Matters™ initiative
is being led by the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with The Culinary
Institute of America and other organizations committed to achieving
increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. In North Carolina,
it is being led by state- and local-level partner organizations of
the N.C. Fruits & Veggies Nutrition Coalition. More information
about Fruits & Veggies—More Matters™ is on the web
at www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org .
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