September is Fruits & Veggies— More Matters® Month, and here at KB Staffing in Winter Haven, we care about the overall wellbeing of our staff and temp workers. That’s why, for this month on the blog, we’ve compiled some tips on how you can pack a lunch that includes more fruits and vegetables.
The old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is definitely true. If you eat more fruits and veggies now, you are adding to the quality of your life in later years. In fact, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation (a CDC collaboration), eating more fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk of common chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers. Plus, most fruits and vegetables taste great without any cooking necessary. Try adding these nutritious fruits and vegetables to your packed lunch on the job for better long-term health.
Grape Tomatoes
First and foremost, these little fruits (that’s right, they’re a fruit, not a vegetable) are a super easy addition to your pack lunch. Just give them a rinse, put them in a container, and they are ready to eat! Plus, they pack a powerful nutritional punch for being low-calorie. Just one cup contains 16 percent of your daily value needed for fiber, and are a good source of lycopene (a valuable antioxidant with health-protecting effects), as well as vitamins A & C.
Carrots
Another low-calorie option, this fat free vegetable will keep for up to two weeks in your refrigerator. Plus, it’s another low-maintenance, easy addition to your work lunch. Just rinse, shave, cut and they’re ready. Or, skip the prep and purchase baby carrots from the produce section at your grocery store. This vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin A, plus has a good amount of vitamin C (which most people don’t know). Bring dips to add more flavor to this side, such as ranch, hummus, or even peanut butter!
Swap Lettuce on that Sandwich for Spinach
An easy go-to option for your packed lunch is probably a sandwich. Instead of putting lettuce between those two slices of bread with your favorite lunchmeat, give your sandwich an upgrade in flavor and nutrition with spinach. This vegetable is fat free, cholesterol free, and saturated fat free! Plus, it’s high in iron, fiber, folate, and an excellent source of magnesium and vitamins A & C.
Other grab-and-go fruit and vegetable options include apples, oranges, pears, cucumber, olives, and much more. Taking these simple, but meaningful steps toward eating more fruits and vegetables is just a part of keeping your health.
At KB Staffing, we care about the health and wellbeing of our staff and the greater Polk County workforce, and we hope these tips inspire you to add more fruits & veggies to your daily meals. If you have questions about a position or about how we can help fill your Central Florida employment needs, don’t hesitate to contact us, or give us a call at (863) 875-5721.
