Table of contents:
- If you eat lots of fruit so you don't eat vegetables, can your nutritional needs be fulfilled?
- Fruit tends to contain more carbohydrates
- Then how many servings of vegetables and fruit must be met in a day?
If you can choose, do you prefer to eat vegetables or fruit? If you answered fruit, you are not alone. Unlike sweet and fresh fruits, vegetables are usually disliked. Though both are sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals for the body. Many think that eating as much fruit as possible can replace the portion of vegetables that should be eaten. Then, is this good if done? Can you eat a lot of fruit so you don't eat vegetables anymore?
If you eat lots of fruit so you don't eat vegetables, can your nutritional needs be fulfilled?
Fruits and vegetables are a source of vitamins and minerals for the body. Each type of food you need for health is maintained. Because they have the same content, namely fiber, vitamins, and minerals, many people think that fruits and vegetables are interchangeable.
In fact, these two types of food have a variety of different vitamins and minerals. There are several types of vitamins or minerals that are better and abundant in vegetables, and vice versa. Therefore, it is not wise if you replace the portion of eating vegetables with fruit.
For example, minerals such as calcium and iron are more abundant in green leafy vegetables. Although there may be in fruits, the amount is not as much in these green leafy vegetables. So, those of you who don't eat vegetables will not be able to meet your daily nutritional needs just by eating fruit.
Fruit tends to contain more carbohydrates
Fiber is indeed a type of carbohydrate found in vegetables and fruit. So, fruits and vegetables must contain carbohydrates in them. However, in fruit there are other types of carbohydrates, namely simple carbohydrates such as fructose.
Fructose is a sweetener that is in every fruit, the more when the fruit is ripe. Well, if this type of simple carbohydrate is consumed too much, it will risk affecting blood sugar levels. However, fructose, the sweetener present in this fruit, is safe for consumption for diabetics if consumed as recommended.
Meanwhile, vegetables do not contain simple carbohydrates in them. So, it tends to be better if you consume a little more, some experts even claim that vegetables can actually replace your fruit meal portion.
But again, whatever enters your body must be balanced and as directed. Not too much or too little.
Then how many servings of vegetables and fruit must be met in a day?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends adults to eat 400-600 grams of fruit and vegetables per day. This amount consists of 250 grams of vegetables and 150 grams of fruit. Indeed, there are still more vegetables than fruit. Even the Ministry of Health states that two-thirds of the recommended amount of vegetables and fruit consumption is the portion of vegetables.
250 grams of vegetables is equivalent to 2.5 cups of vegetables that have been cooked and drained. You can divide this vegetable requirement into three meals, or adjust it to your large meal schedule every day.
Meanwhile, the need for fruit per day is 150 grams which is equivalent to three Ambon bananas or two medium-sized apples, or about four medium-sized oranges. You can use these fruit servings as a distraction between your large meal schedules so that you don't feel hungry throughout the day.
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