National Fruits & Veggies Month: 6 Easy Ways to Eat More Fruits and Veggies

September is National Fruits & Veggies Month, but we're willing to bet you don't need us to tell you that fruits and vegetables are good for you. We all know they are, but sometimes the hardest part is figuring out how to get more of them into your day!

That's why this month isn't just about knowing the benefits. It's a chance to look at small changes and routines that can make reaching for fruits and vegetables a little easier.

And remember, every attempt counts! Building a new habit takes time, so you don't have to completely change the way you eat overnight. Start with something that fits into your day, keep at it, and build from there.

1. Add Fruits and Vegetables to Meals You Already Eat

Eating more fruits and veggies doesn't have to mean changing what you eat altogether. If yogurt is already your go-to breakfast, add a handful of berries or sliced banana. Cooking one of your usual dinners? See where you can add another veggie.

One of our favorites to add? Spinach. We toss it into everything from smoothies to soups and stir-fries because once it's mixed in, you may barely notice it's there. A little here and there can add up!

2. Keep Fruits and Vegetables Where You Can See Them

No matter how good our intentions are at the grocery store, we've all had that piece of produce that somehow makes its way to the back of the fridge and isn't seen again until...well, we'd rather not talk about it.

Sometimes, a simple change of scenery can help. Leave a bowl of fruit on the counter instead of tucked away. Move grapes, berries, or other produce toward the front of the fridge where you'll actually see them. Even rearranging your fridge so fruits and veggies aren't hidden behind everything else can help keep them top of mind.

PSA: If something is getting a little too ripe, don't give up on it just yet. Freeze it for your next smoothie instead of letting it go to waste.

3. Choose Convenient Fruits and Vegetables

Some days our inner Top Chef comes out and chopping vegetables and making a meal from scratch sounds like a great idea. Other days, that's the last thing on the menu. Both can fit into your routine.

There's nothing wrong with making things easier on yourself. Buy the pre-cut vegetables if you're more likely to eat them. Use ready-to-eat options when you need them. And when you're heading out the door, a smoothie or cold-pressed juice can be another convenient way to bring some fruits and veggies along with you.

4. Blend Fruits and Vegetables Into Smoothies

Smoothies are one of our favorite places to experiment with different fruits and vegetables. At home, combine your favorite fruit with a handful of spinach or kale, or keep frozen fruit ready to make prep even quicker.

And if you'd rather let us do the blending, we've got you. Choose a specialty smoothie or get creative with our Build-a-Smoothie menu. Mix and match your favorite fruits and veggies, then add a little something extra like sea moss gel, dates, or Sweet & Spicy Nuts. Who knows? You might find a new favorite combination!

5. Prepare Fruits and Vegetables the Way You Enjoy

If plain raw broccoli isn't doing it for you, that's okay! Roast it. Season it. Grill it. Pair raw carrots or cucumbers with hummus or your favorite dressing. Add fruit to a salad for a little sweetness. Experiment until you find what you genuinely enjoy.

One of our favorite tricks? Marinate broccoli and other veggies in our Ginger Miso Sea Moss Dressing before tossing them into a stir-fry!

Instead of asking yourself how you're supposed to eat a vegetable, figure out how you like eating it. You're much more likely to come back for it.

6. Make Fruits and Vegetables More Fun

Fruits and vegetables don't always have to show up as a side of steamed broccoli or an apple tossed into your bag on the way out the door.

Make fruit skewers. Build a colorful snack plate. Try a smoothie bowl. Or turn snack time into a vegan charcuterie board with your favorite produce, crackers, nuts, dips, and dressings. We love pairing cauliflower with our Elote Street Corn Dip or bell peppers with our Smoked Queso Dip.

Need a little inspiration? Check out our guide to building a vegan charcuterie board for more ideas.

Start With One Fruit and Veggie Habit

You don't have to try everything on this list tomorrow.

Pick one thing that realistically fits your routine and repeat it. Maybe that's adding fruit to breakfast three days a week, keeping produce where you'll see it, or adding another veggie to a dinner you already make.

The important part is giving yourself the chance to keep trying. If you buy vegetables with every intention of prepping them on Sunday and don't get around to it, try again next week. If you add fruit to breakfast twice instead of every morning, those two times still count.

Progress doesn't have to be perfect to count. Every time you find a way to add another fruit or vegetable to your day, you're giving that habit another chance to stick.

Keep Eating More Fruits and Vegetables After September

National Fruits & Veggies Month doesn't have to be about getting everything right for 30 days. Think of September as a chance to find one or two things you might actually want to keep doing when October rolls around.

It's also a great excuse to try something new, whether that's grabbing a fruit or veggie you've always passed in the produce aisle or preparing an old favorite a different way. You don't have to love everything you try. Giving it a shot still counts.

More than 30 years ago, Arden Zinn started Arden's Garden by pressing fresh fruits and vegetables in her own kitchen and sharing them throughout Atlanta. Making fruits, vegetables, and plant-based nutrition easier to enjoy has been part of our story ever since and remains at the heart of our mission of Good Health for All™.

So start wherever you are. Add something. Try something. Blend something. Keep what works, and build from there.