Fruits and vegetables are essential for health, providing vitamins, minerals, fiber, and photochemicals that support growth, healing, and overall well-being. A daily intake of at least 5 cups is recommended for children, and they can be enjoyed in various ways, including raw, cooked, or in beverages. It's important to wash produce thoroughly to remove dirt and germs before consumption.

1. Your Guide to Fruits and Vegetables

2. Why Do I Need Them? What are those? Substances that help you to: Grow Heal when you get hurt Keep your skin, eyes, heart and digestive system healthy Have energy Produce for Better Health. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters. Available at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/. Accessed on April 23, 2010. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and photochemicals

3. What Else is Out There?

4. What’s This?

5. Red Full of: Vitamin A – Keeps your eyes healthy Vitamin C – Helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps gums and teeth healthy Lycopene – In tomatoes, protects the cells of tour body Potassium – Protects your heart and blood vessels Produce for Better Health. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters. Available at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/. Accessed on April 23, 2010. &quot;Vitamin Chart .&quot; KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/vitamin_chart.html>.

6. Orange & Yellow Full of: Folic Acid – Helps your body make red blood cells and DNA Vitamin A – Keeps your eyes and skin healthy Vitamin C – Helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps gums and teeth healthy Fiber - Good for your heart and intestines Produce for Better Health. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters. Available at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/. Accessed on April 23, 2010. &quot;Vitamin Chart .&quot; KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/vitamin_chart.html>.

7. Green Full of: Vitamin E – Protects the cells of your body Iron – Helps your blood cells carry oxygen B Vitamins - Helps your body make energy, is needed for a healthy brain Folic Acid – Helps your body make red blood cells and DNA Calcium – Builds strong bones Vitamins A & C Produce for Better Health. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters. Available at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/. Accessed on April 23, 2010. &quot;Vitamin Chart .&quot; KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/vitamin_chart.html>. &quot;Mineral Chart .&quot; KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/mineral_chart.html?tracking=T_RelatedArticle>.

8. Blue & Purple Full of: Anthocyanins – Protect the cells of your body Vitamin C – Helps cuts and wounds heal and keeps gums and teeth healthy Fiber - Good for your heart and intestines Produce for Better Health. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters. Available at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/. Accessed on April 23, 2010. &quot;Vitamin Chart .&quot; KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/vitamin_chart.html>.

9. How Much Do I Need? &quot;MyPyramid.gov - Inside The Pyramid - Why is it important to eat vegetables? .&quot; MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - Home . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/vegetables_why.html>. &quot;Fruits & Veggies Matter: What Counts as a Cup? | CDC .&quot; Fruits & Veggies Matter: Home: Eat a Colorful Variety of Fruits and Vegetables Every Day for Better Health | CDC . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/what/examples.html>. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that kids get at least 5 cups of fruits and vegetables each day. What Counts as a cup? Think of the size of a baseball 12 small carrots 8 large strawberries 1 medium potato

10. How Do I Eat Them? Raw vegetables make a great snack. Dip them in yogurt, peanut butter or low fat dressing for even more flavor Drink 100% fruit juice instead of soda Add sliced fruit to your cereal or oatmeal Add vegetables to your pizza, sandwiches, soup and pasta Make a fruit salad Help your parents pick out new fruits and vegetables at the grocery store and then make them at home Vegetables can be steamed, cooked in the oven, in the microwave or on the barbeque. Adding spices, herbs and sauces gives them even more flavor. Remember to always try something more than once!

11. Let’s Be Safe &quot;MyPyramid.gov - Inside The Pyramid - Why is it important to eat vegetables? .&quot; MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - Home . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/vegetables_why.html>. &quot;Pesticide Data Program.&quot; Agricultural Marketing Service . United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2010. <www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateC&navID=PesticideDataProgram&rightNav1=PesticideDataProgram&topNav=&leftNav=&page=PesticideDataProgram&resultType=&acct=pestcddataprg>. You should always wash fruits and vegetables before preparing or eating them. Wash under clean, running water by rubbing the item with your hands to remove dirt and germs . Make sure to wash these ones especially well, they like to hold on to dirt and germs: Apples, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes & spinach

13. b. Mostly Green Mostly Orange c. A Rainbow of colors d. Mostly Blue & Purple c. A R a i n b o w o f c o l o r s

14. FALSE TRUE or FALSE?

15. Works Cited Produce for Better Health. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters. Available at http:// www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/. Accessed on February 27, 2008. &quot;MyPyramid.gov - Inside The Pyramid - Why is it important to eat vegetables? .&quot; MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - Home . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/ vegetables_why.html>. &quot;Vitamin Chart .&quot; KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/vitamin_chart.html>. &quot;Mineral Chart .&quot; KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/misc/mineral_chart.html?tracking=T_RelatedArticle>. &quot;Fruits & Veggies Matter: What Counts as a Cup? | CDC .&quot; Fruits & Veggies Matter: Home: Eat a Colorful Variety of Fruits and Vegetables Every Day for Better Health | CDC . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2010. <http:// www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/what/examples.html>. &quot;Pesticide Data Program.&quot; Agricultural Marketing Service . United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2010. <www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do? template=TemplateC&navID=PesticideDataProgram&rightNav1=PesticideDataProgram&topNav=&leftNav=&page =PesticideDataProgram&resultType=&acct=pestcddataprg>.