Health and Nutrition

Go Red Instead!

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and USDA’s MyPlate encourage Americans to “make half their plate fruits and vegetables.” Colorful fruits provide a number of benefits– from contributing important vitamins and minerals, to reducing risk factors for many diseases.

Only one in five Americans is currently getting the recommended fruit each day, which could put their health at risk. 1 For adults, that means incorporating 2 cups daily. To help boost fruit intake, the Dietary Guidelines remind us to think about variety and taste. Now more than ever, there are good reasons to choose cherries.

Since tart cherries are available year-round as dried, frozen or juice, it’s easy to add this RED super fruit to your diet. In addition to their unique sweet-tart taste, they’re versatile enough to include in any dish.

An estimated 1-2 servings of cherries daily can help provide some of the health benefits identified in the research, experts suggest. One serving of tart cherries is equal to:

  1. 1/2 cup dried
  2. 1 cup frozen
  3. 1 cup juice (8 oz)
  4. 2 Tablespoons juice concentrate

To incorporate tart cherries into your diet, click here for delicious recipes and tips.

Page References:

  1. Krebs-Smith SM, Guenther PM, Subar AF, Kirkpatrick SI, Dodd KW. Americans do not meet federal dietary recommendations. J Nutr 2010; 140: 1832-1838.
  2. SymphonyIRI Group. IRI Retail Market Watch. 2008, 2Q. Chicago, IL.
  3. The Hartman Group, Inc. Pulse Report: Consumer Understanding of Buying Local. 2008. Bellevue, VA