September is fruit and veggie month Published Sept. 22, 2010 By 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- September is "Fruits and Veggies--More Matters Month," a national public health initiative created to encourage Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables whether their fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100 percent juice. The message is simple--eat more fruits and vegetables. More than 90 percent of Americans consume fewer fruits and vegetables than the daily amount recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which ranges from 2 to 6.5 cups. Most adults need 7 to 13 servings a day. When choosing fruits and vegetables, variety is what counts. Generally, the richer in color the fruit or vegetable is, the better it is for you. Some benefits to eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables daily are better immunity and a decline in chronic diseases. Eating fruits and vegetables also provides vitamins, minerals and nutrients that processed foods cannot offer. Choosing the right plan depends on age, gender and so forth. The website www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org offers recipes, shopping and serving advice to increase fruit and vegetable servings. The Health and Wellness Center dietitian will be at the Scott Commissary the afternoon of Sept. 29 offering free fruit and veggie information along with samples of a variety of fruits and vegetables promoting this initiative.