It seems as if no matter how hard we try to take in all the food advice filling our inboxes and adding to our commonsense barometer, we still fall short on the eating healthy lifestyle scale. Yes, we know the basics: Fiber is important, our bones need calcium, and our Vitamin D counts may be low, but what about one of the old maxims: 5 a day.

That campaign is being dropped in favor of more detailed information about the good, the better, and the best solutions. If everyone managed to eat 5 fruits and/or vegetables a day, then the overall health profile would be impressive, but now the goal is to give new meaning to the concept. The title cuts to the chase: “Fruits and Vegetables Matter,” but what’s really changed?

This site, which combines links from several health-oriented governmental agencies, has a welcoming concept: Tell us about yourself, and we’ll tailor your fruit and veggie needs. Why not? Everything else we do has an interactive component! You supply personal information such as age and level of physical activity, and it provides information tailored to your specifics. That’s good.

Another positive feature is the fruit and vegetable calendar. It provides information beyond the obvious and provides variety suggestions. After all, how many apples can you eat during the month of October? The calendar labels the persimmon a fruit of the month for October ! First of all, it is a fruit that may frighten people away from the produce aisle. It just seems to be a product without a following. If you want to introduce a new fruit or vegetable, make it easy to find and easy on the eye and the wallet.

Wait, they’ve thought of that too, with their budget guide of 30 ways to stretch your fruit & vegetable budget. My first entry would be: Grow it yourself!

My overall best suggestion and one that manages to receive some attention in my refrigerator centers around the 8-great vegetables that are easily drinkable and tasty to boot: V8. The company has expanded its product lineup to garner more shelf space. BTW, the vegetables count, (OK, a glass is just 3 servings, but, hey, you’re well on the way). Simplicity rocks. Here’s a tip: The drink makes a wonderful recipe substitution for many homemade versions of gazpacho.

So many uses; one beverage!

Do the math: I’m 3/5th of the way there!