Fruits and Vegetables for Celiacs
January 31, 2012
Question
How many serving of vegetables and fruit should a celiac adult have a day? Is there a recommended daily allowance (RDA) chart that celiacs follow?
From,
Kathy
Answer
Hi Kathy. Adults with celiac disease should be eating the same amount of fruits and vegetables per day as the general population. The current recommendation is between 5 and 10 servings per day and should include a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables with different colors.
The compounds in fruits and vegetables that give them their bright hues are antioxidants, the same nutrients that help to prevent various chronic diseases. The different colors represent different antioxidants, all of which we need for our bodies to age healthfully. That’s why health professionals often give the advice to “eat the colors of the rainbow every day,” so that your body obtains this wide variety of nutrients.
To learn more, I recommend going to MyPlate.gov and scrolling down to the “Fruits” and “Vegetables” sections. The site offers a host of information about how to increase fruit and vegetable intake.
Many people ask if frozen vegetables are okay to eat, and I say absolutely! Fruits and vegetables are often frozen right after being harvested, when they are at their peak of taste and nutrition. With freezing, there is little to no loss of flavor and nutrition over time and it can be an affordable and practical way to ensure fruit and vegetable intake.
Sincerely,
Rachel Begun, MS, RD
