BIG Nutrition: A major portion of hydration is from eating fruits and veggies!
We are in week five of a 10 week effort to build a few small nutrition habits and drop some bad ones.
Previous weeks’ topics were:
- Drink at least ¾ of your beverages as plain water each day.
- Eat ½ the amount of sweets per week that you typically eat now.
- Taking sides.
- Get back on track!
Did you know that 20% of your hydration during the day does not come from the water you drink, but from the foods, especially vegetables and fruits, that you eat each day? That is why the new habit to work on during the week ahead is to have at least two vegetable servings (1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw) at lunch and dinner each day. In addition, vegetables are a major source of antioxidants and fiber.
Personally, I think cooking vegetables is overrated, so feel free to save yourself some time by eating some of your veggies raw (e.g., sliced or grape tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers). As mentioned in my first blog on this topic. Not all of the habits will apply to everyone, so join in where appropriate.
Outdoor area Farmers Markets are standing by to help you!
- Roslindale –Saturdays, 9am-1:30 pm, began June 3
- Boston Farmer’s Markets
- Dedham – Wednesdays, 3-7pm beginning June 14
- Newton—Tuesdays, 1:30-6 pm and Saturdays, 10 am-2pm
- Needham—Sundays, 12-4 pm
- Brookline –Thursdays, 1:30 pm to dusk, began June 1
- Cambridge –Several locations and days of the week
Happy and healthful eating,
Donna G. Pertel, MEd, RD, LDN
If you have an idea for a nutrition habit that you recommend building, email me, at