Get your five-a-day
Wednesday 25 February 2009
We all know that we should eat at least five portions of different fruit and vegetables each day, but sometimes it’s just not that easy!
First off, why do we need 5 portions?
To get the right amount of vitamins and minerals we need to eat different varieties of fruit and veg because they all add different nutritional values to our diet. Eat different coloured fruit and veg to ensure you’re getting the best from your diet.
What counts?
Fresh, frozen, tinned, dried and chilled fruit and vegetables all count as well as unsweetened fruit juices and smoothies.
How much is a portion?
Generally, one piece of fruit or a handful of vegetables qualify as one portion. Smaller fruits, like plums or satsumas, account for half a portion - so aim to eat two or more. With larger fruits like melons or grapefruits just one half will do the trick.
One glass of pure fruit or vegetable juice, around 150ml, also counts one of your five-a-day.
Easy ways to get your 5-a-day:
Breakfast
Get the day off to a flying start with a fruit smoothie or a glass of unsweetened fruit juice. If you don’t fancy that, try sprinkling dried or fresh fruit onto your cereal. Or there are always the classic Beans on toast – that counts too!
Morning snack
Grab a piece of fruit - something sweet like an apple will stop sugar cravings. Chopped vegetables with a salsa dip will fill you up until lunch.
Lunch
Hearty vegetable soups and salads are a great way to eat loads of vegetables. You could also add some salad into your favourite sandwich. If you’re having a cooked lunch make sure you have at least two veg on the side.
Afternoon snack
A fruit salad or a handful of dried fruit is perfect to pick at whilst sitting at your desk or watching TV.
Dinner
With any meal there should be a minimum of two different vegetables. A stir fry is a quick easy meal to get loads of crunchy veg in. Corn-on-the-cob is a tasty way to have something different on your plate, or simply stir a handful of veg into pasta and soups.
Pudding
Make ice lollies out of pure fruit juice for a sweet treat or add some fresh or tinned fruit onto desserts. If you’re feeling like you need a boost use fresh fruit to dip into a chocolate sauce.
For a healthily balanced diet plan that is tailored to your individual weightloss needs go to Closerdiets.com. With 16 different meal plans to choose from you can achieve all your health goals, whether it is to lower your cholesterol or to drop a few pounds!