30 plants a week

[PrawnDumplings]

Improving my microbiome and therefore my health and energy is my current aim.

Good gut bacteria helps absorption of nutrients from your food, which supposedly means you have less cravings.

I'm going to list my 30 plants here if anyone wants to join me.

Fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, spices all count 🍆🍑🍌🍊🍎🍓🍍🍒🥑🥒🌱🥔🍋🍉🌽🥙🥦

https://zoe.com/learn/30-plants-per-week?utmsource=googleepmax&utmmedium=&utmmcampaign=20382344316&utmadgroup=&utmmterm=&utmcontent=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6cqk0ujUgwMVnplQBh11wA5tEAAYASAAEgJQ11D_BwE

I've not been writing everything down, but grapefruit, orange, satsumas, sesame seeds, walnuts, brazils nuts, broccoli, Leeks. Tonight's tea will contain spring onions and chives. And I'm not sure if input potatoes, I've eaten those too! So easily over 30.
I drink peppermint tea, does that count?

I made a grainy salad that was warm at lunchtime and cold for dinner.
54 Buckwheat
55 Broad beans
56 Peas
57 Chestnuts
and yet more repeats

That;s my week done.

Went shopping today, 2 additions that I've not had for a while. Radishes and celery

Do baked beans count?

Well they are plants..

Thanks I wasn't sure as the way they come in the rim with the sauce kind of feel a bit processed so that's good to know.

I'll try counting starting today and for the next week to see if I'm getting anywhere near the 30.

I am not sure that baked beans count as they are ultra processed and generally high in sugar and additives. Tinned unflavoured beans and legumes will be OK.

'UPF' isn't necessarily a relevant criteria here, the aim is about gut health and they're still beans (plus some tomato).

I've just got my Zoë weekly update, it doesn't show the tin of Heinz 5 beanz I had for a couple of lunches last week as being UPFs. They'll have contributed to my plant diversity which came in at 45 though!

I've just checked scores for baked beans - the branded ones come in at over 75 for me and are 'good' for gut health. Of course you can make even healthier ones yourself but if you need something quick and convenient they're likely a better option than many other things.

Just joining this thread, so apologies if the question has already been addressed and I've missed it, but what constitutes a portion of any of these foods? Is there some guidance somewhere?

Aldi baked beans: Haricot Beans (50%), Tomato (35%), Water, Sugar, Modified Maize Starch, Salt, Onion Powder, Ground Paprika, Flavourings, Paprika Extract.

Baked beans are processed not UPF, modified maize starch is known in a home kitchen as cornflour. They count.

@JanuaryOranges here's a guide https://zoe.com/learn/30-plants-per-week

Portion size doesn't matter too much. Just don't take the mickey, Lidl hazelnut cake does not count - unless you pop a dozen hazelnuts on top. Even if you eat curry and chilli all week it would be cheeky to count spices as more than two. Eating bread that says it contains 15 grains and seeds is better than plain white bread but counting all 15 is not really playing the game.

The main point is to include variety and still meet / exceed the five-a-day fruit and vegetable target.

Thanks very much @AnotherAdventFridge that's helpful - sounds sensible. I wondered if a handful of brazil nuts, for example, would count as a portion and it sounds like it would.

@AnotherAdventFridge maize starch is the same as cornflour however modified maize starch has been changed either physically, through the use of enzymes or using chemical techniques.
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/beware-modified-food-starch-especially-the-modified-part/#gsc.tab=0

Also flavourings have been added. Here is zoe's opinion on these. The assumption is that in this case they are artificial otherwise the manufacturer would have been keen to say they were natural.
https://zoe.com/learn/food-flavorings-safety?utm_source=google_pmax&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20382344316&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnrOtBhDIARIsAFsSe51jdHiBfQg69UMI20AsYCbTGEdDJcQiotPjyctdYINfgRfV-LQ9ZqMaAgjvEALw_wcB

If you read ultra processed people these 2 factors alone make baked beans upf.

This isn't about portions, it's about diversity. You need to consider both.
So in the Zoë app there's a daily 'portions of veg' count - a 'portion' of mixed beans would score one for that, but it could add 5 to the weekly plant diversity count. Similarly with something like ratatouille.

@Bubbles254 orthorexia is dangerous, please don't encourage it.

Even Zoe allows for 80% clean eating and 20% crap or what you will.

If you read ultra processed people these 2 factors alone make baked beans upf.

And that, imo, tells you all you need to know about getting too hung up on the designation and detail of 'UPF'.

I am not saying not to eat them, just that I wouldn't count them towards the 30 a week as they are ultra processed. In my mind they are neutral as the ultra processed part cancels out the beneficial bean part so if you enjoy them and want to eat them in moderation it is fine.

Thanks@ErrolTheDragon yes I do realise it's about diversity. But am assuming one Brazil but isn't a portion 😂 so I began to wonder.

I just checked, Zoë rates baked beans as processed not ufp. And gut health as good. So I guess they don't think a small amount of UPF ingredients does 'cancel out' the whole can.

In my mind that makes sense. But I think with this stuff, 'you do you' - it really isn't anywhere near an exact science at the moment.

I'd count baked beans as two:
1 Haricot beans
2 Tomatoes

So as Errol says, just do you, I'd rather hit a slightly grubby 35 a week than a perfectly clean 25.

You plant a tree

Sometimes you can get them from independent butchers or grocers in October. Or look out of Facebook local pages, in glut years people are desperate to shift some.
At this time of year, they are so bletted that getting from the conservatory to the kitchen is a challenge.

@JanuaryOranges the attached photo is from Megan Rossi's book 'Eat more, Live well' which seems to be helpful with how much is a portion?

Thanks @LampLass

I think you can overthink this!
Just list any plants you eat. Simple.

This is a great thread, for the last five years I’ve been eating the brightest rainbow diet I can. I don’t count weekly but do regularly clock up 16 types (not portions) of fruit and veg each day. I also love nuts and seeds.