Health experts have suggested for many years that we should all eat a minimum of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but it can be difficult to know what actually counts as a portion. The good news is that almost all fruit and vegetables count towards, so it’s easy to make sure you’re getting your suggested quantity. But there’s more – your portions don’t all need to derive from fresh produce, nor do they need to be eaten on their own.
Frozen or canned produce all count towards your five a day, and are a handy way of including added nutritional value to your meals – try adding a handful of frozen vegetables to stews or soups. Dried fruit is also another handy way to meet your daily five, so opt for currants, sultanas or figs as a healthy snack instead of biscuits or crisps.
Make a smoothie for breakfast, as it is a great way to consume up to two portions of fruit in one go. Alternatively, add a glass of freshly squeezed juice to your morning meal to top up on nutrients. Beans and pulses also count towards your five a day, so be sure to add chickpeas, baked beans or kidney beans to soups or salads for a tasty way to top up the value of your meals.
There are also certain ready meals which count towards your five a day, although some contain salt and sugar as well so read the labels to be sure that what you’re eating contributes towards a healthy and balanced diet. Potatoes contain too much starch to be counted, as do yams and plantain. However, there are plenty of root vegetables which do count, such as sweet potatoes, parsnips and turnips.
More than just fresh fruit counts towards your five a day quota, so it is easy to make sure that you eat at least five portions a day.
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