Why are fruits and vegetables good for my kids?

For starters, fruits and veggies provide a cornucopia of nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, most of the B vitamins, and minerals like potassium, iron, and magnesium. Certain vegetables such as legumes (dried beans, peas, and lentils) also provide protein. All of these nutrients help kids grow properly and stay healthy. In addition, fruits and vegetables contain more than 2,000 types of phytonutrients -- natural compounds (including plant pigments) that offer health benefits ranging from keeping eyes healthy to possibly warding off cancer and heart disease.

Although the benefits of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients are reason enough to give fruits and vegetables a prominent place on your kids’ plates, these wonder foods also play an important role in weight control. Because most fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water and dietary fiber, they are filling and satisfying -- which means kids are less likely to overeat. They are also naturally free of added sugars and solid fat, and most are “nutrient dense” -- that is, they provide a large amount of nutrients for a minimal amount of calories. For these reasons, the more fruits and vegetables kids eat, the more likely they are to be a healthy weight.