More Matters: Shopping Tips for Fruits & Vegetables

Food labels have learned to speak loudly to consumers and continue to change their message, year by year and product by product. There are all types of "foods" that claim to satisfy any number of fruit and vegetable servings for the day, but the fine print can leave a lot to be desired. The CDC has designated September the Fruit & Veggies: More Matters month; we couldn't agree more! When it comes to healthy whole foods - fresh fruits and vegetables - more matters, and so does where those fruits and veggies come from!

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These are our top four guidelines to follow when buying fruits and vegetables:

1. Choose foods that only have natural packaging (skin, peel, rind, etc.).
   Occasionally this rule will need some wiggle room as certain produce will come in plastic wrapping, pints or bags. But, for the most part, if the only thing you have to open or remove is the natural skin, you're eating something real!
2. As often as possible, buy seasonally!
   Typically the seasonal items are on sale, so look for the deals. Because that fruit or vegetable is in its peak season, it's growing fast and coming from all over! Produce sections should be bursting with ripe and seasonal fruits and vegetables, but you can also find them locally at Farmer's Markets and Co-ops.
3. With fresh, frozen, canned or packaged, check the ingredient lists!
   Sometimes fruits and vegetables will require no preservatives, so the ingredient will be peacefully short (e.g. only reading "peppers" or "raspberries"). On occasion you'll find a few additives to prevent browning or spoiling, which is fine. When checking these lists, look to avoid added sugars and/or syrups, salt, and hydrogenated fats/oils.
4. Be wary of loud health claims. The good stuff doesn't need anyone to toot its horn!
   Going back to guideline #1, if there's no packaging, there's no place for a food company to insert an exaggerated health claim! These foods speak for themselves with bright colors, unique texture and shapes. You know they're healthy, and no one needs to say why.

For more information on fruits and vegetables, check out FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org. You'll see what's in season, how to plan out weekly meals and shop smart, and learn to understand the Nutrition Facts and food labels.  

Which fruits and vegetables top your list of Fall favorites?