to wonder how anyone doesn't eat their five a day

[underpaidworker]

Without even trying I usually eat 10+ portions a day, I just can't think how anyone doesn't have at least 5 a day.

Today ive had
oats with kiwi and banana
Apple to snack
Chicken pasta with tomatoes, courgette, onion garlic peppers mushrooms (3 portions at least)
Greek salad tomatoes, cucumber, avocado Basil red onion

And now currently snacking on carrots and humous

I ate 2 bananas and some broccoli today.

Sorry, just to clarify, I don't actually wish I was the OP...

I like fruit and veg but I don't actually like fruit.... Compared to eg crisps etc.

Also if I'm at work I type so have not got time to be chomping away though berries and grapes are good.

I do buy those fruit packets in waitrose etc and used to get sugarsnap beans snack packs etc in m&s or boots. But I'm in a suburban area now and the boots and m&s don't stock those.

I had breakfast from Starbucks (panini and a drink) a sandwich, crisps and chocolate for lunch and Dominos pizza for dinner. I also had some Haribo at work because we had loads sitting around and I have had 4 of those flakes you put in ice cream. Feel free to judge.

Not condoning this for everyone every day obviously but I have good health, skin good enough to get the odd lovely compliment and try not to judge others' eating choices as it will send them (and you) a bit mad. Get on with your salad unless your head gets any further up your arse and you can no longer access your mouth.

Umm, quite easily?

Some days, I have easily 10. Others I fail spectacularly.

It is much easier IME if you eat some vegetarian meals (but I have ulcerative colitis, so there are times that doesn't work so well) and if you're cooking / providing all of your own food.

Today was a reasonable day, here you go:

Grapefruit juice
Yoghurt with fruit muesli
Tea

Grilled salmon with quinoa, lentils and kale
Carrot juice (but technically this doesn't count as only one juice etc.)

Spicy chicken pitta
Bistro salad
Asparagus

The only time I found I was consistently near 8-10 portions of fruit and veg a day was when I was eating quite a lot of veggie dinners (but then even I get confused and I think I'm pretty clued up about what counts as 'one portion regardless of how many' and what doesn't).

Sadly my intestines would prefer a home made Nandos to a nice chick pea casserole. Sometimes they prefer sweet tea and white toast to decent food. This also sucks, because it's not what I want to eat. It's less nutritious and less sustainable and all the rest...but it's what I can eat. It's why I do the carrot juice even though it technically doesn't count, because I don't absorb food properly at times.

So yes, YABU. There are many, many reasons (of which mine is relatively rare) why people don't reach 5 a day.

I really do wish MN had a [Medal]

Also op what did everyone do before their 5 a day quota? You do realise this is mostly a marketing ploy.

If I kept up with every bit of nutritional advice out there I'd go mad.

Yesterday's food:

Omelette with 2 eggs and 2 slices fat free ham
Oat bran galette with Philly extra light and 2 slices fat free ham
150g vanilla yoghurt
200g lean fillet steak

Not a vegetable in sight. It was easy :)

There are many reasons why people don't eat 5 a day - choice, budget, access, time to prep / cook / eat, etc. But more importantly, who are you to be judging them for not doing so?

I judge people far more harshly for using "should of" when it's "should have" or "should've" than I do for ruining their teeth on fructose with so much fruit.

Does a slice of carrot cake count as one portion? If so I had two of my five in the staff room today.

Who exactly is behind this marketing ploy to get people to eat healthier and get less illnesses?

People actually eat vegetables?

www.zoeharcombe.com/2012/03/five-a-day-the-truth/

Methe, this is the MN medal emoticon:

Who exactly is behind this marketing ploy to get people to eat healthier and get less illnesses?

Do I detect a distinct change in tone from your rather silly OP?

Have a Twix love.

I had a sausage barm for breakfast, pork and stuffing barm for my dinner (lunch for some folk), followed by a donut. Had a pie for my tea and two chocolate cakes, not so much as a sniff of fruit or veg.

I'm going to log it all into myfitnesspal later, I wonder if my tablet will spontaneously combust.

Op you really are thick aren't you?! The fruit and veg workers, the supermarkets etc...

Everyone knows that though gov advice it's generally a marketing ploy.

I went to the market today and have just had a huge bunch of asparagus with runner beans and poached eggs.
Gorgeous.
Would rather have veg than fruit.

Oh aren't you just amazing, OP?

Amazing that you have found the time to write this thread what with all your burger dodging and cherry tomato popping.

Nah, that's clearly a Jammy Dodger.

who exactly is behind this marketing ploy to get people to eat healthier and get less illnesses?

The jolly green giant - I heard!

loads of fruit in these :-)

How many portions does your pasta actually count as? We had spag bol with carrots tomotoes and onions but I reckon thats 2 portions max?

I love veg, especially salads but let's face it - most fruit is boring as fuck compared to a donut.