Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre. Incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables into your daily meals not only provides your body with necessary nutrients but also promotes better digestion, improves immune function, and helps in maintaining a healthy weight. Learn why Fruit and Vegetables are important and how to include it within a healthy diet.
The importance of eating your 5 a day
The fruit and vegetables group is the biggest in the Eatwell Guide and we are recommended to eat at least 5 A DAY. Diets high in fruit and vegetables are linked to a lower risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.
Fruit and vegetables provide a range of essential nutrients and fibre, as well as chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants that may have health benefits. Fruit and vegetables can also help you maintain a healthy weight as they are generally low in calories, so you can have plenty for relatively few calories.
Whether your fruit and vegetables are fresh or frozen they all count towards our 5 a day.
5 Top Tips For Eating More Fruit & Vegetables
- Add fresh or dried fruit to breakfast cereal or porridge
- Snack on fresh fruit or vegetable sticks
- Experiment with salads – you could try using red cabbage, adding brightly coloured vegetables such as grated carrot or sliced pepper and including leftover cooked vegetables like broccoli or peas in your salads.
- Add plenty of vegetables to dishes like pasta sauces, stews or curries – frozen or canned vegetables can be a quick and easy way to do this.
- Try fruit-based puddings like fruit salad or canned/dried fruits with plain yogurt
