Celebrate Fruit and Vegetable Month in Style!

Did you know that June is Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month?  This is the time of year when fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables are ripe and delicious. You can find a huge variety of them in stores and farmers markets.  It is the perfect time to start adding these powerhouse foods into your diet.
 Fruits and vegetables are packed full of a variety of nutrients that can be good for health and well-being.  Fresh produce contains many vitamins and minerals which carry out protective functions in our bodies to maintain wellness and fight disease.  You will get the most benefit from fruits and vegetables when you choose a variety of different colors and aim for at least five servings a day. 
 Try buying fruits and vegetables fresh and in season.  For information on what is in season, visit www.sustainabletable.org.  Other websites that can help guide you in selecting and preparing fresh produce:www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov and www.eatingwell.com
 Contact a Registered Dietitian if you have more questions about ways to add fruits and vegetables to your diet. They would be happy to help you celebrate Fruit and Vegetable Month in style!

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides progressive programs for both preventive nutrition/wellness and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) at VA health care facilities and systems throughout the nation.  Nutritional services are available during hospitalization, during treatment for illness and chronic disease for veterans enrolled in the VA system.     

Within the VA, registered dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy to veterans.   This therapy includes assessing a person’s overall nutritional status, creating an individualized course of nutritional therapy to promote healing and management of the disease, illness or condition, and coaching the veteran and his/her family on ways to meet his/her nutritional needs.

To find out if you are eligible for VA benefits, how to apply, and what it will cost, then complete an application form online. Go to:  Eligibility Have a question? Call the VA Health Benefits Service Center toll free at 1-877-222-VETS

To find out where to obtain VA nutritional care: locate and browse the list of VA facilities and Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) with addresses, and telephone numbers go to:VHA Facilities Locator  The majority of VHA facilities have Nutrition Clinic Services available, check with the local telephone care operator at the VA site nearest you to find out what nutrition services are available in your area.  Typical nutrition programs/services available include:  individual and/or group counseling for weight management, heart healthy eating, diabetes, renal disease, oncology and HIV.

To Check out a list of internet links to trusted sources of nutrition information for consumers,  Go To:   VHA Nutrition Information Educational Links   Remember nutrition is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and your daily nutrition selections may help to reduce your risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and many types of cancers.