For those of us who try to live a healthy life, it can be intimidating when you think about how frequently the science of eating changes. One day, any form of alcoholic beverage is bad for your health and the next day, wine is good for you. One day, chocolate is a fattening, unhealthy snack and the next day, dark chocolate protects you from heart attacks! Even though there is a alot of contradictory advice, one thing will never change: the benefits of fruits and vegetables. Although new fruit and vegetable studies come out from time to time, they always resoundingly support consuming more fruits and vegetables. Tomorrow you might be banned from eating pork forever, or ordered to eat fatty red meat, but you can bet that weight management plans will still focus on the health benefits of fruits and vegetables.

You may not know, but, fruit and vegetable juice can even be used to clean out the body. Fruit and vegetable detox is the latest thing in dietary science. With all the fad diets out there, it is refreshing to see one that actually involves eating healthy, vitamin rich foods. Vegetables and fruits are tested sources of antioxidants, and no one has ever been told by his or her doctor that he or she has eaten too many. You simply can’t!

Of course, not all vegetable and fruit meals are equal. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that eating locally grown, organic produce is the best thing you can do for your body. A lot of people avoid farmers markets, assuming that they cost a lot more but nothing could be further from the truth. It actually costs less to buy fruit and vegetable groceries that are locally grown than it does to buy them from the grocery store! Unfortunately, your choices will be somewhat limited by the season. Nevertheless, there are plenty of things to eat. You’ll find all the old standbys as well as plants you  might never have tried before. Such delicious vegetables as kale and kohlrabi can really add to your diet, giving you a new, healthy taste sensation.

The bottom line is that fruit and vegetable dishes don’t have to be a pain. It is possible to cook healthy while still cooking good food. Once you’re used to eating healthy foods, in fact, you will not want anything else. Eventually, fatty, high sugar foods won’t taste so good anymore. Right now, eating junk food might feel addictive, but eating healthy can also be.