MHealthy has a new nutrition program focusing on adding colorful fruits and vegetables to people’s daily eating habits.
The six-week Colorful Choices program, offered through StayWell Health Management, includes access to new healthy recipes, a mobile app for tracking fruit and vegetable intake, and opportunities to get free produce on all three University of Michigan campuses.
Registration remains open through July 25. The program runs through Aug. 22.
“This is one of the easiest nutrition programs ever; no calorie or fat gram counting, no weighing, and no measuring,” says Erica Owen, manager of nutrition and weight management for MHealthy. “A diet rich with fruits and vegetables is exceptionally healthy and can increase energy while also reducing your risk of obesity, heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, and hypertension.”
In Colorful Choices, the goal is to eat at least 3½ cups of produce each day — in red, orange, yellow and white, green, and blue and violet. Each time the participant does, they earn points by tracking on the website or mobile app.
A serving of vegetables is worth two points and fruits one point. Produce like spinach, blueberries and tomatoes, which may offer extra health benefits, earn participants one bonus point.
Participants also have the opportunity to get free produce on campus. On select days, the first 20 participants who show their Colorful Choices mobile app at an M Farmers Market in Ann Arbor, the UM-Dearborn cafeteria, or the Flint Farmers Market can get a free “produce-of-the-day” item. Learn about free produce through Colorful Choices, along with locations and dates.
Colorful Choices is open to benefits-eligible faculty and staff. Register by July 25 through the StayWell website.
