Fresh sheet : Emphasis on fruits, veggies

Getting your daily dose of fruits and vegetables?

Probably not, according to research released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Produce for Better Health Foundation. More than 90 percent of all Americans and 96 percent of children still aren’t eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day.

In fact, to meet the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans most people would have to more than double their intake. The guidelines call for adults to eat 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups each day. Children should be eating 2 to 5 cups each day.

That’s why this week the groups are launching a national call-to-action. The campaign, Fruits and Veggies – More Matters, replaces the familiar 5-A-Day program.

The new health initiative started Monday and is encouraging people to eat more fruits and vegetables at every meal, whether they are fresh, frozen, canned, dried or 100 percent juice.

The research also shows that families are clamoring for easy ways to work more fruits and veggies into their meals. So, they’ve compiled recipes from expert dietitians and the Culinary Institute of America chefs at www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. In addition to healthy recipes, the site includes a fruit and vegetable database, shopping and planning tips, cooking and handling information, advice on involving your kids in cooking, a “mom2mom” message board and an “Ask the Expert” feature. I like the colorful worksheets for kids, including the “Fruit and Veggie Tracker” and “Weekly Shopping Planner.”

Look inside today’s food section for the recipe for Broccoli Mandarin Orange Salad and a kid-friendly recipe for T-Rex Tortilla Pizza.

Nectar of Life expands retail sales

Organic, fair-trade coffee roasters, Nectar of Life, recently began selling its coffee through T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores.

Martin Jennings, who co-founded the company with his wife, Hannah, created five new blends that recently landed on store shelves. The coffees range from light to dark roast and contain Arabica coffees from Peru, Papua New Guinea and other premium growing regions. The coffees, which are roasted in Spokane, sell for $5.99 per 10-ounce bag.

“These are ultra-premium blends,” he said. “Just because they are socially responsible coffees doesn’t mean they aren’t gourmet.”

Nectar of Life specializes in shade-grown, certified Fair Trade, organic coffees. They are also kosher. The company’s coffees also are sold at other area stores, including Yoke’s Fresh Markets, and online. For a complete list and more information on Nectar of Life, go to www.nectaroflife.com.