Dieticians and health experts are always stressing the importance of eating our five a day, but sometimes it can be difficult to think of ways to include them into meals. However, it is easier than you may think – it is simply a case of being inventive with meals.
Breakfast time is an easy way of including a portion of fruit or vegetables to your day, such as slicing fruit on top of your cereal or adding a handful of berries to either cereal or porridge. If you’d prefer a savoury dish, you could opt for a healthier choice such as scrambled eggs and include a portion of grilled mushrooms or tomatoes to the side. Canned fruit and veg also count, so choose those in natural juice rather than syrup for a more beneficial choice. Fresh or frozen vegetables are also an easy way of adding vitamins and minerals to meals – try adding a portion of sweetcorn to a pizza for a healthy and tasty topping, or throw a couple of handfuls into soups or stews for added nutritional value.
Lunchtimes are a surprisingly easy way of adding a few of your five a day in, simply by adding salad to a sandwich or baguette, enjoying an apple or pear for a healthy snack, or drinking a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice. If you’re looking for a more nutritionally beneficial snack, opt for sticks of cucumber, pepper or carrot with a low fat dip such as houmous. Many people aren’t aware that beans and pulses also count towards your daily quota, so try adding a handful to stews or casseroles, and even salads. And you don’t need to miss out when it comes to dessert – simply switch your usual sugary treat for fruit and natural yoghurt for a tasty end to your meal.
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