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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that eating your "Five a Day" is BULLSHIT

202 replies

superv1xen · 28/01/2011 12:19

and probably just so the government can persuade us to shell out on overpriced fruit and veg from supermarkets Hmm

the reason i think it is bullshit is because i decided after a christmas of stuffing myself with junk food and drinking most evenings a bit more than usual i was going to detox and since early january i have been making a converted effort to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. as prior to this i was lucky to manage one or 2. mainly because of the cost but also because i dont like it :o

well after my weeks of diligent healthy eating, i have not noticed ANY difference, womens mags would have you believe you will have "glowing skin" if you eat lots of fruit and veg and all sorts of other wonderful benefits.

but no. i feel and look as shit as i ever have. Angry

or does it take longer than a month to work? :o

OP posts:
GrendelsMum · 29/01/2011 21:07

Ooh, I like the sound of fried chickpeas, but I'd count that as an actual meal. I might have that for supper tomorrow, or cold for lunch during the week some time.

I might also get DH to look at getting some longlife juice in when he shops.

Very taken with Jaja's menu for the day - just what would suit me!

GrendelsMum · 29/01/2011 21:08

Suggestion for grated carrot in a sandwich duly noted. I am dubious, but I promise to try with an open mind and report back!

Horton · 29/01/2011 21:10

Fried chickpeas really really nice. They go all crispy on the outside. Delicious.

Also, soup with veg in it for lunch? Would that work?

lifeinlimbo · 29/01/2011 21:10

GrendelsMum - try using pickles and chutneys - eg branstons pickle has swede, carrots, onions, cauliflower and gherkins.

Horton · 29/01/2011 21:11

I mean grated carrot with cheese or ham or something, obviously. Not just carrot sarnies.

MillyR · 29/01/2011 21:12

The thing about ancestors and seasonal food is a bit misleading. Our species has always processed food. They have always found ways of treating it and preserving it so that it can be stored and used out of season.

An easy way of getting kids to eat 5 a day is 1 piece of fruit, one flask of veg soup (2 of your 5 a day), and a smoothie in their lunchbox. That means they have eaten their 5 a day in their packed lunch, and whatever other fruit and veg they eat at other meals is a bonus.

But don't forget to eat fat. We need fat to think properly and see, and for many other things.

MillyR · 29/01/2011 21:13

Does hummus count as one of your 5 a day? What about falafel?

pointydug · 29/01/2011 21:14

houmus yes.

Jajas · 29/01/2011 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Horton · 29/01/2011 21:16

You'd have to eat an awful lot of pickle to get a portion of veg, surely?! But every little is definitely better than none.

GrendelsMum · 29/01/2011 21:17

I got very excited about chutney and pickle, which I love, checked the NHS website, and they say it doesn't count. So back to the grated carrot.

I didn't think I was being condemned to eat just a carrot sandwich, Horton! I was just being dubious about the combination of carrot and cheese.

Horton · 29/01/2011 21:21

Honestly, it's good. You need some mayo or something in there, too. Or chutney.

Foxinsocks · 29/01/2011 21:23

if you buy frozen veg it's not as dear

Nell799 · 29/01/2011 21:24

I have always eaten 5 - 8 a day , plus loads of water and fish . It's a habit to me . I'm in my mid thirties but often getting mistaken for my step sons sister (or girlfriend once) and DH daughter . I wonder whether its my diet , and was tempted to start stuffing down fried foods and cigarettes after the girlfriend incident .

thisismyboomstick · 29/01/2011 21:24

Wasn't it originally 5 portions of fresh fruit and veg; then they said you could count processed or cooked food such as beans, juice and dried fruit, but still not chips. What's wrong with potatoes - full of vitamins.

GrendelsMum · 29/01/2011 21:24

Cheese, chutney and added grated carrot I can probably manage! But mayo - you're forgetting the 'rarely shop' issue!

lifeinlimbo · 29/01/2011 21:25

I guess it depends on the quality of the pickle. Some might be just thickened sugar and salt syrup? The good ones do have plenty of veg!

Niecie · 29/01/2011 21:25

I assume that smooothies don't count for as many portions as you think for the same reason that fruit juice doesn't count for more than portion no matter how much you drink. A lot of the benefit of fruit and veg is in the fibre. If you juice it or make it into a smoothy then you break down the fibre and a big part of the benefit is gone.

Horton · 29/01/2011 21:26

Mayo lasts for ages in the fridge!

I also look quite young, Nell, and was IDed the other day (quite gratifyingly as I am 42) but I think it's just good luck, tbh. I reckon the only reason the good skin/hair thing is put about is because they think it will persuade people to give it a go.

Foxinsocks · 29/01/2011 21:27

(also not as dear as you don't waste any, frozen veg)

OgreTripletsAreSoCute · 29/01/2011 21:31

I find it varies immensely, some days I manage 6 or 7 no problem, for example

Breakfast cereal with a banana
Juice
Salad with lunch, maybe 2 portions, fruit for pudding
Evening meal with 1x veg, more fruit for pudding

Other days it just doesn't work out, for example today

Cereal, no bananas as we had run out, no juice for the same reason. Cannot bear any other fruit that early in the day.
Lunch - cheese and cucumber sandwich, then went out so didn't get round to fruit
Evening meal - fish and chips from the chip shop
Just off to go and get some fruit now

I also find the portions thing annoying, have you seen the quantity of salad leaves you have to eat to make 1 portion?

RE: cheese and pickle, I have pickled onions instead of pickle to keep the sugar and salt intake down.

wubblybubbly · 29/01/2011 21:31

I try not to count, as it seems stupidly arbitrary, so I aim to eat well over the recommended 5 to cover myself.

5cm of Cucmber, 1 medium tomato, no problem, stuff into a lunchtime sandwich and you're well on your way.

However, 3 sticks of celery? I have never in my life managed to eat 3 sticks of celery in one sitting. I'm fairly sure that even one portion of my homemade celery and celeraic soup contains that much.

And honestly, it's the 4 heaped tablespoons of greens that really gets me. Can you imagine just how much cabbage that is on a plate Shock.

2 broccoli spears or 8 cauli florets - it's got to be a nonsense.

wubblybubbly · 29/01/2011 21:34

Surely you're going to need 3 tablespoons of pickle to count as a portion? I love pickle, but that might rather swamp my cheese.

GrendelsMum · 29/01/2011 21:36

I would happily eat 4 tablespoons of cabbage - but how big are the broccoli and cauli heads supposed to be?

Horton · 29/01/2011 21:37

I can eat a whole head of celery at one sitting. I bloody love the stuff. Admittedly it tends to be laden down with cream cheese or hoummous, but still. Didn't someone say fat's good for us?