CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Department of Health said on Thursday that an “alarming” number of Wyoming residents do not enough fruits and vegetables.
“Data from the 2019 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System shows 89 percent of Wyoming residents reported not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables per day, a statistic that Kacie Hutton, Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CDPP) prevention specialist with WDH, described as alarming,” the department said.
With March marking National Nutrition Month, the Wyoming Department of Health took the opportunity to highlight the importance of nutrition “especially for those facing certain chronic conditions.” Chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and stroke are among the leading causes of death in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that people eat between 5-13 servings of fruit and vegetables per day to get the optimal amount of vitamins and minerals that foods like grains, meat and dairy don’t provide, according to Hutton.
“Small, sustainable changes to the way you eat can make managing chronic conditions easier and even help prevent their development,” she said. “Eating a variety of colorful foods can provide our bodies with the vitamins and minerals we need to stay healthy.”
“Adding variety to your plate not only has nutritional benefits but also allows for some creativity in the kitchen and fun at the table.”
Hutton suggested that people can try adding fruits and vegetables to favorite family recipes or can try recipes from different cultures.
“Perhaps you or someone in your family enjoys broccoli. Experiment on how many ways you can prepare and serve broccoli,” she said. M”aybe you incorporate different spices to create a unique culture cuisine or change the method of cooking, either bake, steam or sauté.”
She added that people managing diseases like diabetes or heart disease may need to make adjustments to their diet to meet different nutritional needs.
“For example, a person with diabetes may customize their plate to limit the amount of carbohydrates where as someone with high blood pressure would need foods with low sodium,” Hutton said. “The bottom line is small changes can have a huge impact.”
The WDH shared tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to choose healthier foods:
- Ask a friend or family member to join your efforts to choose healthier foods
- Make small gradual changes
- Prepare fruits and vegetables beforehand to make it convenient.
- Consult with a Registered Dietician
Hutton added that the Cent$ible Nutrition Program offered through the University of Wyoming is another resource for nutritional tips and recipes.
“More information about the program can be found at https://uwyocnp.org/,” the WDH said. “For more details on WDH CDPP activities, contact Hutton at Kacie.hutton1@wyo.gov.”
