Five a day made easy

Let’s get fruity

Fruit and vegetables are key to a healthier lifestyle and they taste great.
It is generally recommended that we all eat at least five portions a day.

Look out for the 5 a day logo on food packets – when you see this logo you can be confident it counts for at least one portion.

Top tips for eating more…

Have a piece of fruit with breakfast every day – why not chop some strawberries into your cereal

Stock up on spices and experiment with Indian vegetarian recipes – easy, exotic and hot stuff

Get in the habit of eating salads with everything

Buy fresh fruit in season as it can be cheaper and tastier

Drink fresh fruit juice and smoothies instead of coffee and tea during the day

Have two vegetable side dishes with every evening meal

Snack on raw vegetables

Keep a bowl of fruit in your workplace

Stir fries are a quick, inexpensive and tasty way to eat veg

Keep a few pots of fresh herbs on your window sill

Buy a vegetarian cook book and experiment with vegetables you have not tried before

Grow your own! Even if you do not have a garden you can grow salad leaves and tomatoes plants on window sills and hanging baskets. Your own produce usually tastes better and it can’t come fresher!

Have vegetable soup as a starter – fry an onion, lob in a few vegetables (or a tin of tomatoes) and some garlic, add a stock cube and water, simmer for 45 minutes, liquidise or sieve, add salt, pepper a herb and some lemon juice and serve

Fresh, frozen, chilled, canned, 100% juice and dried fruit and vegetables all count – but you can’t include potatoes!

Kidney beans count, as do mushrooms – add them to stews and casseroles

Top website recommendations

Eat Well, Be Well from the Food Standards Agency