Daily fruit and veg thread

[mikado1]

Does anyone remember a thread from Spring /Summer 2018 where we all counted how many types of fruit and veg we ate each day? Portion size irrelevant, we were just trying to be intentional about eating more variety. I can't find it but thought maybe some posters would like to do it again. I definitely need to eat more and it was a really encouraging and positive thread. I still make the bean and mint salad that someone kindly shared at the time.

I'll start with yesterday:
Onion
Garlic
Kale
Beetroot
Carrot
Blueberries
Sweet potatoes
Chia seeds
Flax seeds
(I think we included nuts, seeds and legumes too)
9

I bought spinach today which comes in a huge salad bag (twice the size of my rocket and mixed leaves bag). Does anyone have ideas for using it up? I will wilt some with scrambled eggs or omlettes etc but it's a lot.

You could make sag aloo as a side for a curry. Just boil some potatoes, put in an oiled baking dish, add shredded spinach and curry spices, drizzle on a little oil and bake in the oven.

Also, it’s nice stirred into just cooked drain pasta, after you stir in a bit of pesto,topped with Parmesan. Nice served cold also with salad on the side.

There’s a salmon sag aloo tray bake recipe on BBC Good Food that uses a good amount of spinach which I love. I do it all on one tray (the recipe suggests otherwise) and add more veg: cauliflower, red onion chunks, that sort of thing.

Brilliant. Those ideas sound lovely..thank you both.

Today,

Grapes
Tomato
Red pepper
Onion
Garlic
Olives
Lettuce
Spinach
Rainbow chard
Parsley
Coriander
Mint
Chives
Rosemary
Black pepper
Coffee

16

Does tea count?
I suppose it should when it is from the plant in question, not just an aroma.
The quantity will be similar like when spices are used.

That would give me a few extras every day, as I don't like drinking only water, so have several large teapots a day with different herbal and fruit teas, like mint , chamomile, elderflower, apple & berries,...

Hmmm.. no I didn't think tea or coffee would count as not a fruit or vegetable. I did wonder about my green tea. Happy to go with what others think.

Dr Tim Spector's YouTube videos about having 30 plants includes coffee if it's 'proper', not instant. I don't think it includes tea though.

Oh well I start every day with a fresh pressed espresso so that’s good .So many antiioxidants in coffee. I listen to Dr William Li podcasts on eating to beat disease and coffe and green tea feature. Over the last year I have ditched breakfast to fast after evening meal until lunch at 12. I have lost 10 lbs but I eat less because I need less to fill me up and I feel sharp in the morning. I’ve never been a morning person but I’m 54 and have eaten breakfast for 52 years so it was a big change. I have more time in the morning now for exercise and to get ready for work.
Have already detailed lunch at 12 so this evening I had calamari with homemade pea and mint purée, artichoke hearts in evo and tender stem broccoli.
Had a pear as a snack and 2 kiwis this afternoon so that’s 17/18 I think.
For balance have also had half a bottle of red wine. Only drink at the weekend and it’s one thing I don’t want to give up!

I agree.

I'm having champagne tomorrow whilst watching Eurovision. It's a tradition in our house. 😆

Maybe the standard black tea is processed out of being relevant.
But with herbal tea, what is the difference between having mint in a sauce and having mint tea?

I think black tea is great if without milk and sugar. Lots of flavonoids .

A bit light on fruit & veg compared to earlier in the week but wasn’t home for breakfast and a late evening out before dinner, and it’s Friday so it’s whatever is left in the fridge day!
B - 0 :(
S - carrot, celery and hummus
L - salad leaves, tomato, cucumber, pepper, olives
S - apple
D - mushrooms (on pizza!), tomato, olives, coleslaw and wine is made from grapes

I expect you're right, I can't remember if he even mentioned herbal teas tbh. The videos are worth watching, some good suggestions.

And the weekend starts on Friday lunchtime, right 🤣
Could you count the wine as grapes?

I was also light yesterday. Fridays I tend not to eat a huge amount during the day due to work patterns and Friday night is a free for all night on food. (I don't think starburst count unfortunately - even if they used to be called Opal Fruits)

Yes, when I did 30 a day, real coffee did count as did proper dark chocolate and oats. I do drink tea, including herbal teas but have never classed them as plants. To me mint sauce actually contains mint, as in you are eating the actual plant rather than an infusion. But, I am happy to be corrected on the tea thing and add it in. It makes sense if they are good for you then you must be getting something from the infusion. I love fresh ginger and lime tea and fresh mint from the garden tea but I've never thought to add them.

Yesterday :
Banana
Melon
Cucumber
Salad leaves
Onion
Peas
Aubergine (pickle)

Similar to a PP, I have started Intermittent Fasting (mostly to see if it helped my gut issues) and not only is it helping that but I am losing weight very easily. I know this isn't a diet thread but also means I tend to eat better as its evenings that I eat badly. And that shows when it all goes out the window on a Friday night. So, I try not to eat before 11 and after 7 (although I ease off at weekends) . These are the times that usually I pack in loads of plants. After 7 is the witching hour when I am more inclined to add in crisps and sweets and cakes. It also seems to focus my attention to packing in as much food that is good for me in that 8 hours. I also work late a few times during the week and eatng late afternoon before I go out to work instead of when I get home seems to be good for me too.

If only it did start at lunchtime ! That would be a slippery slope and I’d be asleep by 5. 😂

Just broke my fast with a throw it together/ use up what’s in the fridge salad so maybe some strange combinations but was delish.
salad leaves(4)
beetroot
mint
cabbage salad(lidl)
grapes
melon
res pepper
walnuts
Was lovely with some cubed feta.
12 so far including my morning espresso

Today…
breakfast - overnight oats containing rhubarb, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, redcurrants, ground flax
Lunch - chicken salad wrap containing mixed leaves, tomato, cucumber, red onion, homemade hummus (lemon, roasted pepper, chickpeas)
dinner - plan to have veg curry!

Inspired by a post on here I've made hummus this morning.

Chickpeas
Tahini
Lemon juice
Garlic
Olive oil

All blended together in the food mixer.

Then I split it into two, and added a grilled red pepper to one half and whizzed it again.

We'll have it for dinner later with flatbread, olives, and salad. 🙂

I also made hoummus today! This evening I had beef and pork kofte with several herbs from the garden served with salad , flat bread and humous .
Another 13 so 26 for the day.
Also had rose wine and 2 squares of 85% dark chocolate from Lidl which is sooo good.

Spinach
Tomatoes
Dates
Walnuts
Peppers
Red onion
Refried beans
Guacamole
8

I'm loving counting dark choc and coffee 😃 the green tea I use is the organis tea leaves so I ssivly a case for that.
Yesterday
Chia
Flax
Blueberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Red onion
Red Peppers
Yellow Peppers
Avocado
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Hazelnuts
Potatoes

13 Not bad for a Sat bbq day.

Yesterday was a good day.

Tomatoes
Sun dried tomatoes
Dill
Lemon (zest and juice)
Orange (zest and juice)
Mixed leaves (rocket, lettuce [2 types], dandelion, pea shoots)
New potatoes
Asparagus
Olives
Avocado
Cucumber
Radish
Sweet peppers
Red Onion
Spring Onions

Raspberries
Banana
Strawberries
Brazil Nuts
Pecans
Hazelnuts

Mango (snack)
Pineapple (snack)
Peach

24 (not including the different types of lettuce)! Love summer - so easy to get it all in and eat delicious food

Today

Spinach
Chard
Lettuce
Parsley
Lovage
Radishes
Red pepper
Black olives
Homemade hummus - chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic
Rhubarb crumble - rhubarb, lemon, ground almonds, cinnamon, oats
Coffee
Dried mango
Prunes

19🙂