Fruit and Veggie: More Matters® Month is a National Campaign put on by the Produce for Better Health Foundation to help make us more aware of how important it is to eat fruits and vegetables. More than 90% of both adults and children do not get the recommended daily value of fruits and veggies. 

Catherine Kirkhoff, CHES, CLS, Curriculum Coordinator for the Marion County Public Health Department, reinforces the importance of trying to get at least two servings at every meal: breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snacks (All forms count – fresh, canned, and frozen).
Fruit Kabob
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
•    4 grapes (green or purple)
•    3 berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc)
•    2 pieces of melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, etc)
•    1 dollop of dip 
•    1 coffee straw
Dip:
2 cups vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
•    Take a coffee stirrer (or something similar) and rotate putting grapes, berries, melons on until stirrer is completely filled
•    Dip or roll fruit kabob in dip and enjoy!

Calories: 41  fat: 0.3 g  fiber: 2.7g    carbohydrates: 9.2 g   protein: 1.1 g      sodium: 10.9 mg

The theme for Fruit and Veggie month is Family Meals. This is a good reminder of how important setting time aside for family meals is. With our busy hectic schedules, it is not easy to sit down every night for dinner. But setting small goals like 2 to 3 times a week for a sit down, device free, family dinner is very important. If you can’t do dinner, try doing breakfast once or twice a week! Sharing a fun family meal is good for the spirit, brain and health of all family members. Recent studies link regular family meals with the kinds of behaviors that parents want for their children: higher grade-point averages, resilience and self-esteem. Sweet and Savory Rice Cakes

•    2 rice cakes
Sweet Rice Cake
•    2 tbs. yogurt
•    Blueberries
•    Apple slices
•    Banana slices
•    Raisins or craisins
Savory Rice Cakes
•    2 tbs hummus
•    Shredded carrots
•    Red pepper slices 
•    Cherry tomatoe
Serves: 1
Serving Size: 2 rice cakes

1.    Spread sweet or savory topping (yogurt or hummus) on top of rice cake
2.    Add fruit/veggies to the rice cakes and make face or design.
3.    Enjoy!

Go to www.marionhealth.org for more information, and follow Marion Health on social media: @Marion_Health.