Eating vegetables and fruit just got more exciting with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit’s “28-Day Vegetable and Fruit Challenge”!

 From July 30^th to August 27^th, 2012, take our challenge and “Aim for 8″ servings of vegetables and fruit a day for 28 days! All participants who challenge themselves will receive a ballot in our draw for the chance to win 1 of 2 amazing prizes: 

• 1^st prize of a 1 year membership to Goodlife Fitness*
• 2^nd prize of an iPod shuffle**
• All registered participants will receive a canvas grocery bag once you have completed the challenge

 Here’s what you have to do: 

1.  Register for the challenge by emailing aimfor8challenge@chatham-kent.ca with your name and phone number or email. Your information will be kept confidential and will be destroyed at the end of challenge.

2.  Download the Vegetable and Fruit tracker below to help you keep track of your daily servings.   You can also pick up a paper copy of the trackers at your local library (available starting the week of July 21st). Check out the back of the tracker for helpful tips and some ways to receive extra ballots.

3.  Log onto our blog: www.ckphu.com and/or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ckphu for daily tips, recipes and information on vegetables and fruit for the duration of the 28 days to help you through your challenge and beyond!

4.  Once the challenge is complete, send your completed tracker to aimfor8challenge@chatham-kent.ca or drop it off at the health unit (435 Grand Ave P.O. Box 1136, Chatham ON) by September 7, 2012.

 The 28-day Vegetable and Fruit Challenge is part of our Aim for 8 Everyday! campaign when we encourage people to eat more vegetables and fruit for good health.

 The challenge is intended for people 14 years of age and older as Canada’s Food Guide recommends 7-10 servings for this age group.  Children aged 2-13 can take part in the challenge as well, but please see Canada’s Food Guide below for the recommended amount of servings. This is a great way to get the whole family involved in eating more vegetables and fruit!

 Getting your servings is not as hard as you may think. A serving of vegetables and fruit is: 

• ½ cup fresh, frozen or canned vegetables and fruit or the size of a tennis ball
• 1 cup of leafy green lettuce or the size of a fist
• 1 medium piece of fruit

 Including a serving or two at each meal and snack is a sure way to get enough vegetables and fruit in your day. The picture below shows how quickly servings add up in your day.

 Join us and aim for 8 servings of vegetables and fruit everyday!

Canada’s Food Guide

Aim for 8 tracker 2012

 *Made possible by donation from Goodlife Fitness at the downtown Chatham Centre

**Made possible by donation from Staples

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Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit

Yes we are still giving these out. Fruit and vegetable vouchers will be handed out by Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit staff at the Farmers’ Markets listed below. On each of these days, a limited number of vouchers will be distributed, so this will be based on a first come, first serve basis.

Wallaceburg Farmers’ Market at Kinsmen Community Centre – August 18th starting at 9am

The Fourth Street Market – July 25th starting at 5pm