If you are anything like me, you groaned when you heard this rule about five fruits and vegetables a day. However, it didnt take me long to develop a strategy that I can live with. In addition to this article, www. also has helpful information.

To begin, I knew I was really going to have to devise a strategy that I could live with for a long time (I guess the longer I stick with it, the longer Ill have to stick with it since Im supposed to live longer by sticking to it, right?). I decided to be as sneaky as possible since I knew I really wasnt going to enjoy this task.

I decided that my over-all strategy would be to eat all five required fruits and vegetables before eating anything else during the day. I did allow for some exceptions: oatmeal, almonds, and Wheat Thins . Since I have high cholesterol and oatmeal and almonds help keep it in check, I knew this decision would be a good one. I used the Wheat Thins just because I need a psychological edge to get me though the day.

So, to start the day, I put some kind of fruit on my oatmeal. This move is rather sneaky. Once I commit to eating bland oatmeal with no butter or sugar, adding fruit sounds delightful. In the spring and summer, I use either strawberries or blueberries. In the winter and fall, I use bananas.

For my mid-morning snack, I eat an individual serving size bag of baby carrots. Again, a very sneaky move. You see, I teach and cant leave the classroom at this time. So, if the only thing I have to eat is carrots and Ill starve if I dont eat them, its a no brainer!

After work (I get off at 12:00), I drive about 20 minutes to pick up my daughter at preschool. I eat my lunch on the way to get her while Im in the car. For lunch, I have a pear, almonds, and Wheat Thins.

When I get home, my daughter takes a nap and I have about an hour and a half to myself. This time is the real battle for me. Because Ive been running around all morning, I crave with every fiber of my being a quick fix for relaxing. Of course, that quick fix wants to come in the form of cake. Ive tried to strike a compromise with myself and allow myself to do whatever I want outside of eating. Some days it works better than others, seeing as how Im far from perfect.

After I pick up my oldest daughter from school, its snack time. I have two fruits/vegetables left to go. I usually have a banana (if I havent put one on my oatmeal, canned peaches if I have) and grapes with a cheese stick.

So, by around 3:00 in the afternoon, Ive eaten all five of my fruits and vegetables. Now, experts around the world are starting to get antsy because Im mainly eating fruits and not a lot of vegetables and Im eating the same thing every day. My opinion on this criticism is that beggars cant be choosers. I really had to struggle to find something that works for me. I thrive on consistency and a schedule and my little plan fits both. In addition, I usually fix two vegetables to eat with meat at dinner. So, even though its not a perfect plan, its mine and its one Ill stick with.

Pepper Montero