Spring and Summer-like temperatures are here, which means more opportunities to get outside and be active and more choices (and cheaper prices!) for fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the quintessential nutrient-rich, low-calorie foods. So why do so few people eat the recommended amounts? Here are some frequently cited barriers:

• They're too expensive.
• My small grocery store only sells apples and bananas.
• I don't know how to select fresh fruits and vegetables.
• They don't taste good.
• I can't cook.

Sound familiar? Fortunately, there are some great resources out there that can help you overcome these barriers.

Farmer's Markets. In addition to your weekly trip to the supermarket or grocery store, consider stopping at a nearby farmer's market. Farmer's market produce is usually locally grown, offered at lower prices, and very fresh. See if there's a farmer's market near you: http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmersMarkets.

Tips for Selecting the Best Fresh Produce. Buying a whole melon or pineapple can be risky if you don't know the signs of ripeness. This guide tells you what to look for when picking out your produce: http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/spfiles/SP527.pdf.

Easy Fruit and Vegetable Recipes for the Whole Family. While many fresh fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw without additional preparation (after all, they are nature's fast food!), these web sites provide great recipes for preparing a snack or meal with just about and fruit or vegetable you can buy: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org and http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.

Wondering how many cups of fruit and vegetables you should be eating each day? Click here. If you take out some measuring cups you'll see that over the course of a day it's really not that tough to meet these recommendations. A half-cup of orange juice and small banana on your cereal for breakfast, an apple for a snack, a large salad at lunch, carrot sticks before dinner, chicken stir fried with broccoli at night and a bowl of berries with a dollop of cream for dessert will do it!