Baker's Best of Health

Do you think you eat enough fruits and vegetables everyday? Sometimes it’s hard to keep track. So to encourage folks to eat healthier, the 5-A-Day for Better Health initiative was launched by the CDC as a reminder to eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.


But don’t be overwhelmed by the choices—natural, organic, or locally grown—because you really can’t go wrong. Just buy the items you think look the tastiest, and give ‘em a good washing when you get them home. Here’s a few techniques to keep ‘em clean:

1. Research shows that most bacteria and dirt are trapped near the ends of fresh fruit and vegetables, where the blossom fell off or the stem was attached. So before you wash that zuke or cuke, slice off—and dispose of—the ends.

2. Put 3 or 4 teaspoons of baking soda in a sink full of warm water, swish the produce through it, and gently scrub the skin with a soft brush. Rinse with clear water, and you’re good to go!

3. Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 3 cups of water in a handheld sprayer bottle and spritz your smooth-skinned fruit or veggies with the solution. Count to 10 before rinsing it away.

4. Soak salad greens in a large bowl filled with cold water, 4 tablespoons of salt, and the juice of a whole fresh lemon. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, then rinse them under cold water.