Why should we eat 5-a-day?

We all want to be healthy. These days it's so easy to pick up a 'ready meal' and pop it into the microwave. Don't get us wrong - these meals can be nutricious, satisfying and tasty, as well as extremely convenient for busy people to prepare.

But do they contain the vitamins, fibre and antioxidants we need each day to ensure we have a balanced diet?

It is well worth going to the effort each day to eat the correct amount of fruit and vegetables to help set you up for a healthier lifestyle. And there is so much variety to choose from, with different produce in season throughout the year. There is always something for everybody!
 

The 5-A-DAY scheme is designed to encourage you to eat a total of 5 portions of fruit and veg each day, in any combination to make up your 5-a-day. You don't need to eat 5 portions of fruit plus 5 portions of vegetable. As long as you eat enough each of fruit and veg to make up 5 portions in total, then you've done it! Easy!

Here are 5 reasons to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day:

• They're packed with vitamins and minerals.
• They can help you to maintain a healthy weight.
• They're an excellent source of fibre and antioxidants.
• They help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
• They taste delicious and there's so much variety to choose from.

How much is a portion? Here's a guide to help you:

One piece of medium-sized fruit - eg, an apple, peach, banana or orange
One slice of large fruit, such as melon, mango or pineapple
One handful of grapes or two handfuls of cherries or berry fruits
One tablespoon of dried fruit
A glass (roughly 100ml) of fruit or vegetable juice
A small tin (roughly 200g) of fruit
A side salad
A serving (roughly 100g) of vegetables - eg, frozen or mushy peas, boiled carrots or stir-fried broccoli
The vegetables served in a portion of vegetable curry, lasagne, stir-fry or casserole