Topic: 5 fruit or veg a day? How many do you have?

[Chris Graham]

I know its a stupid question to ask on an Allotment website but how many portions do you have a day of fruit and veg?

I have been trying to have as many as possible and today I had around 10 portions.

Not bad eh?

[quizzical1]

Today, parsnip, carrot, onion, potato, garlic, celery, but only small quantity of each in a stew. Later in the evening, a banana, 2 clementines and an apple (not all at once though).
Tomorrow probably a salad, so at least the 5, and then some more fruit.

[Jill]

Today, we had psb, cauliflower, parsnips and potato at dinner and orange juice (with bits) at breakfast.  Five! ;D

[ACE]

malt, barley, hops, yeast, tobacco.

[Jeannine]

Yesterday.Brocolli, potatoes, onions,peas, banana, 2 passionfruit an apple and a few grapes  for me. Rather less for John...I have to bribe him to eat  green veggies,
XX Jeannine

[OliveOil]

We average 8-10... the whole eat 5 a day is a government scam really.  As more and more people eat less fresh food and the amount of malnourished/obese children increases they have invented the 5 a day phrase... however, to get our actual requirements we would need to eat at least DOUBLE the recommendations. 

This is especially so if eating supermarket produce where storage and the intensive growing conditions results in very nutrient deficient foods. 

Obviously us lot and our fresh home grown produce will get more nutrients but still i would be aiming for 10 a day rather than 5!

[Barnowl]

malt, barley, hops, yeast, tobacco.

.. and fermented grape juice.

[Nelson]

Crikey, don't know if I do so well with this.  Let's see...

Sunday: orange juice, mushroom, tomato, courgette, broccoli & potato = 6
Monday: orange juice, banana, apple, chunky kitkat, onion, courgette = 5
Tuesday: orange juice, banana, apple, tomato, potato, leek = 6

Not that bad but I guess I could do better, B-

[norfolklass]

Crikey, don't know if I do so well with this.  Let's see...

Sunday: orange juice, mushroom, tomato, courgette, broccoli & potato = 6
Monday: orange juice, banana, apple, chunky kitkat, onion, courgette = 5
Tuesday: orange juice, banana, apple, tomato, potato, leek = 6

Not that bad but I guess I could do better, B-

aha, but chunky kitkats contain biscuit, so you can count the grain, and the chocolate comes from cocoa plants, so that makes 7 ;D

[theothermarg]

I read in the press that tesco jumped on this bandwagon but put prices up the week before putting them half price. doughter and I noticed this straight away
and had a laugh about it they must think we are all stupid :P
any body out there who did get cought and will admit to it?
margaret ::)

[timelady]

I only buy veg at Sainsburys when it's really marked down - like 10p. Since I live right behind the building I can check 1/2 hour before they close, heehee. But generally I go to the farmers market in Lewisham, they're there every day. I get buckets of whatever is going for £1/bowl that week. This week it's lots of courgettes! (about 7 for £1!) And the lighter coloured sweet potatoes, which I'd never had before.

I try to aim for 5 a day but don't always get there. Not because I'm eating lots of other things though. But I never quite understand what one portion is, I read differing things. Other days I far exceed 5, so I just go for a generally healthy diet as an average. But at least much of my fruit and veg is raw as I don't cook much. I love juicing too and treated myself to a good machine a couple summers ago. I know it doesn't count for much as you don't get the fibre. but it's yummy.

Tina.

[saddad]

Having married a dietitian over twenty years ago I think my 5 a day status is reasonably sound...
 ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Somedays it could be 10 or more, others just 2 or 3.  Depends on the day and my work really.  We are drinking smoothies now which have 5 or 6 different fruits in and I reakon a big glass counts as a couple of portions.  I would live on fish and veg, but the rest of the family aren't quite so keen.  Scoffing yummy blood oranges at the mo as they are in season.  I try not to buy much veg, just eat what is available on the plot, and I would rather not buy fruit, but if I have to it is only citrus, nanas and unfortunately due to a low harvest, apples at the mo as I have lots of bottled and frozen fruits.

[Multiveg]

I used to love going to Lewisham or Croydon market. Recall many an occasion of eating 2 or 3 cucumbers on the bus home!

These days, don't seem to eat much veg!

[manicscousers]

lots and lots..usually 7 to 8 as orange juice counts as 1, grapes, apple, nana are snacks, dried fruit with brekkie flakes, salad with lunch or home made soup that must have at least 2 in  and at least three with dinner.., cor, that's about 10  :o :o ;D

[Chris Graham]

Remember potatoes dont count, they are starchy  ;)

Well anyway, well done everyone.

[pye]

Remember potatoes dont count, they are starchy  ;)

They count in my house.  :P

[Rosyred]

On average, a portion of fruit or veg is equivalent to 80g. Below are some examples of what counts as one portion:

1 apple, banana, pear, orange or other similar sized fruit
2 plums, satsumas, kiwi fruit or other similar sized fruit
1⁄2 a grapefruit or avocado
1 large slice of melon or fresh pineapple
3 heaped tablespoons of vegetables, beans or pulses
3 heaped tablespoons of fruit salad or stewed fruit
1 heaped tablespoon of raisins or sultanas
3 dried apricots
1 cupful of grapes, cherries or berries
1 dessert bowl of salad
1 small glass (150ml) of pure fruit juice


 

[Nelson]

aha, but chunky kitkats contain biscuit, so you can count the grain, and the chocolate comes from cocoa plants, so that makes 7 ;D

Good point!  How many portions in a crunchie then?  ;D

[OliveOil]

I think a portion is 'your' handful so that little kids wouldnt need 80g but would need a handful to count as a portion whereas a big man with big hands would get a much bigger portion.