Colour Co-ordinate Your Food for Fruit Month

Colour co-ordinate your food for National Fruit & Vegetable Awareness Month 2007

5+ A Day National Fruit and Vegetable Awareness Month 2007 kicks off on 1 November to raise awareness of the need for Kiwis to eat their greens - and yellows, purples and oranges too.

The number of schools signed up to the 5+ A Day Fruit and Vegetable programme has almost doubled in the past year (from 600 - 1100 primary schools) but people are still finding it hard to grasp the basic meaning of how to get their optimum fruit and vegetable intake, despite around 80% awareness of the 5+ A Day logo among the general public.

“More than 400,000 children are now learning in fun and interactive ways about how fruit and vegetables not only taste great, but also help to keep them healthy and well,” says Ron Becroft, president of United Fresh NZ. “Children are great with their knowledge of 5+ A Day; it seems to be New Zealand’s adult population that struggle with the simple concept”.

Mr Becroft said United Fresh was delighted with the progress the 5+ A Day programme was having in schools and early childhood centres throughout New Zealand, helping to encourage children into healthy eating habits. The media has a big role to play in helping to further the 5+ A Day education to the general public, he says.

It’s simple: Eat five or more handfuls of colourful fruit and vegetables every day (3 or more of vegetables and 2 of fruit). Remember that a serving size differs for every person, depending on the size of their hands. For young children, a serving size is small because their hands are small, so eating half a tomato or a few baby carrots is a serving; while an adult would have to eat much more to get their 5+ A Day.

The focus in this year’s 5+ A Day teaching resources is on Te Äniwaniwa (the rainbow) analogy promoting the understanding of 5+ A Day the Colour Way. For good health it is essential to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables every day and ideal if you can eat from each colour group.

New Zealand Nutrition Foundation nutritionist Kelsey Woodcock says, “Getting your 5+ A Day is simple and extremely beneficial for your overall health and wellbeing. Fruit and vegetables are low in calories and fat and are quick and easy to prepare. Eating fruit and vegetables in an array of colours, not only adds interest to meals, but it also means that you will be getting a range of essential vitamins and minerals.”

In addition to 5+ A Day in the curriculum, around 300 schools throughout the country receive weekly fruit and vegetable box deliveries as part of the Health Promoting Schools Fruit in Schools programme.

Help us to help Kiwis get the 5+ A Day message during National Fruit and Vegetable Awareness month 2007 during November!

ENDS

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