US: Veg side dish pushed off plate at home
Only about 4 percent of Americans meet daily recommendations for vegetables, according to a new report released by the National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, a national alliance of public and private partners that includes the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 2015 Report Card revealed that the produce problem in the US is even getting worse. Average vegetable intake (excluding fried potatoes) declined 6 percent during the past five years. One major reason for this drop was tied to a decline in a vegetable side dish at dinner.
Dinner looks different these days. The growing popularity of convenience items and one-dish meals, such as pizza and sandwiches, has pushed the vegetable side dish off the plate, according to the report. Staples such as lettuce salads, corn and green beans are consumed less often and have led the decline in vegetable consumption.
Research with moms found that the main barriers to increasing their family's vegetable consumption are different family preferences, the need for new preparation ideas and cost. Moms also may be giving in too easily.
Pivonka said moms are hungry for ideas on what works for other moms. Involving children in growing, selecting or preparing vegetables, having vegetables cut up and ready to eat, hiding vegetables in other foods and providing tangible rewards when a child tries a new dish are the most successful approaches, yet no more than half of all moms have tried these approaches.
One thing is for sure. If you have multiple forms of vegetables in your home – fresh, frozen, canned and 100 percent juice – your family will likely eat more vegetables. Studies show that people who eat "all forms" tend to eat more vegetables.
Source: usnews.com