We all know that we are supposed to eat five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. If you thought getting five servings of fruits and vegetables a day was tough, get ready for nine! That’s the latest recommendation from the new dietary guidelines released by the departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Nine servings translates to about 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables every day.

We all know fruits and vegetables are good for us, but how do we go about getting nine servings every day? Most of us have a hard time working in five. Eating 2 1/2 cups of vegetables a day probably sounds next to impossible. But it’s a goal that’s so important for your health. “The best nutrition minds in the country made these recommendations after studying the research that show fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and high blood pressure,” says Christine Filardo, MS, RD, a spokeswoman for the Produce for Better Health Foundation. “Fruits and vegetables can also help fight the obesity epidemic.”

So what does it take to get into the nine-a-day habit? According to the experts, it takes constantly reminding yourself to eat fruits and vegetables. It takes having fruit and veggies available at every turn – at work, at home, in restaurants. It takes making them a more readily available option, because most people today are beyond busy. If you haven’t been accustomed to eating much produce, it takes starting small – maybe going for one serving a day at first, and then staying the path.