Do you really get your five a day?

[chessica]

YABU - yes
YANBU - no

I aim to eat healthily where I can but realistically I probably only have 3 portions of fruit or veg most days. Some days more and some days I only have one.
In a normal day, I’ll have an apple, a bowl of berries/some grapes and then possibly a chickpea curry. Sometimes I add spinach to this and sometimes I don’t. Obviously that’s only 3 a day really as I’m not having that many berries or chickpeas.

To be sure for all the different plants I eat my health is far from great.

There’s a certain degree of snobbery with this ‘we eat at least 10 portions each a day’ compared to someone who might only be able to afford a bunch of bananas, a packet of 6 apples and a tin of pears each week for their family.

I don't think posters' responses have been snobbish. The OP asked whether people eat their five a day and people responded. They aren't saying 'I eat 10 a day, and you're rubbish if you don't!', are they?

Of course it's expensive to eat a diet containing a really wide variety of interesting and tasty vegetables and fruit, but most people on high, medium or low incomes could probably increase their fruit/veg intake a bit. Some veg is cheap, and frozen veg is good (if you have a freezer).

Yes, as long as I'm not feeling ill. Today I've had onion, carrots, lentils, celery, tomatoes, apple, banana, strawberries. Homemade wholemeal & rye bread. Will probably have some grapes and/or a peach later. I don't really eat UPFs very often, the occasional hobnob or glass of squash.

Yes most days. Today I made a smoothie with three portions of fruit for breakfast. At the same time I prepared a fresh fruit blended apple and pineapple juice for later in the day (this isn't every day as I keep an eye on my sugar intake). I had leftover veg stir-fry for lunch - at least two portions - then salad with dinner - another two portions. So nine so far.

Eating a wide range of fruit and veg is really expensive. We spend a lot. It would be so much cheaper to make a cheese or ham sandwich for lunch rather than a selection of veg and salad like I have. I've been shocked at how much fruit and veg has shot up in price. I buy loose and it's trebled in price at least. Even more if you want the nicer veg like the nice tomatoes.

Eating a wide range of fruit and veg is really expensive. We spend a lot.

It's not "really" expensive. Frozen veg and fruit is very cheap and there are many choices. ASDA has mixed frozen veg 1kg for 80p. That cannot really get any cheaper. I used to like the frozen leeks and they also go quite far.
Are they as great as fresh? Nutritionally yes, consistency may differ, but they are still good choice. So can be tinned veg. I got most of my stir fryes for 20-50p in yellow stickers. For some reason they are always left there yet they can be used into so many dishes.
Yes, there is less variatey than fresh, but still very good wide range in the freezers.

Yes. I make sure I have vegetables at every meal. Even breakfast. And I eat my fruit as snacks.

today I’ve had mushrooms and cherry tomato’s at breakfast.

Lunchtime I had a salmon salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mixed peppers, beetroot and avocado.

Dinner I had more salmon with broccoli, carrots and green beans.

Fruit wise it’s been grapes, mandarins, an apple and banana.

So thats 14 today but I’ve never counted it up before.

Its easy to eat that amount though.

Usually yes

I'm dieting at the moment so getting more like 7 I'd day

It could very well be worse if you didn’t eat your fruit and veg.

Your choice but it’s easy, I probably have over 10 each day. When I don’t have I get constipated.

breakfast smoothie with at least 2 pieces fruit and protein powder

Massive lunch salad eg lettuce tomato cucumber pepper probably another 3

A couple of apples in the afternoon

tonight I had half a broccoli some cauliflower and mushrooms with dinner at least another 3. even if rest of my family don’t eat I do a massive bowl of steamed or stir fry veg with dinner each night

Yes and much more. We’re vegetarian.

Yes, moreso in salad/soup ingredients though.

Yes!

Today I had...

Avocado, rye bread & apple & satsuma for breakfast

Cauliflower & broccoli cheese for lunch with smoked mackerel

Asparagus, lettuce, potatoes & Satsuma with tuna steak for dinner

Haven’t RTFT so these points may have been mentioned but for one, the whole 5 a day thing came from fruit and veg companies so they had a vested interest in promoting it.

Secondly, the Japanese are known for their longevity and the average Japanese person in no way hits 5 a day. Fruit is expensive there and a treat. While they do eat veg, it’s in quite small amounts, usually as one or two ingredients in a recipe. Not a big portion of veg on the side like we would.

So personally I don’t even try or consider it. I mean yes, fruit and veg isn’t going to be unhealthy. But the 5 a day thing is plucked from the air.

@MeridaBrave

well done! A “massive” salad AND a “massive” plate of veg. Most MN users only manage one massive

I do since I discovered BOL one pot meals for work 😁

Reading this I feel like I need to up my game in what I cook. There's some fancy daily eating going on!

I wish I got my 5 a day but sadly not. I don't usually eat breakfast, sandwich for dinner and then veg with my evening meal but to be honest if its a spag bol or similar I wouldn't do extra veg. I find it really hard if you don't a lot to then fit in 5 a day.

I used to log food on my fitness pal which shows if yours eating enough protein and vitamins etc and that was also impossible before you start with the a day!

Yes, normally.

Today I had:
Breakfast: handful of grapes and a peach with muesli (containing various nuts, seeds and dried fruits in small quantities)

Forgot lunch and just had a cold fish leftover from last night at 5pm but would normally have some tomatoes or coleslaw or similar or veg leftovers with lunch.

Dinner: homemade lentil Dahl which was pretty much entirely veg - sweet potato, onion, garlic, fresh ginger, chilli, spinach, spring onion, basil.
Apple pie.

It's not hard.
I mostly have fruit (berries) & yog or eggs or avocado for breakfast. Trying not to eat bread or pasta, but do eat potatoes.

I LOVE fruit & veg so that's what I crave. I don't eat meat, but do eat fish.

I also like unhealthy things like chocolate & lattes but try not to have them too often.

Oh and wine. That's my downfall. But hey, it's still made from grapes right?!

Yep, am vegan so par for the course! Sadly I eat crap too 😂

Very rarely

I thought we can't compare to other wprld parts. Consodering catbs are apparently dangetous to us but not them 🙈

There is a lot of salad being eaten on this thread!!!

It can be bloody expensive all right. But it doesn't have to be?

Bananas apples, carrots and tinned stuff is still fruit and veg, and to my mind counts for a lot.

Bananas & carrots are cheap but apples are more expensive. We easily get through 28 a week, which is £15 I guesss.