Fruits and vegetables deliver the majority of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber that we all need in our diet
During a recent conversation about food with a fellow Brit, my friend said “I always try to make sure I get my ‘5 a day’.” I was instantly reminded of this mantra that we all grew up with in the U.K. The message was consistently delivered at school, at home, on the TV, on the news. A recent Internet search showed that this guideline was in fact recommended by the World Health Organization. Several countries adopted this advice during the late 1980s and 1990s and it’s a message that is still being delivered today in some places.
‘5 a day’ refers to the five portions of fruit or vegetables each person should eat, per day, for a healthy diet. It was such a simple message and, in my opinion, well delivered. Considering we all still remember it 20-plus years on is testament to that!
“What is a portion?,” you may ask. This really doesn’t need to be over-complicated. A portion is the amount of that fruit or vegetable you would usually eat, and one of the ‘5 a day’ can even be a glass of juice.
Some examples would be:
A handful of grapes
1 apple, or mango or banana
a glass of fresh juice
6-8 strawberries
2 handfuls of raspberries
A large slice of melon
½ grapefruit
½ avocado
½ bell pepper
1 sweet potato
3 tablespoons of lentils
2-3 tablespoons of peas, or green beans, or carrots on the side of your meal
5 spears of asparagus
Fruits and vegetables deliver the majority of our vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber that we all need in our diet. To get the best variety, eat as many colors of the rainbow in natural fruits and vegetables as possible.
Ever since that conversation reminded me of this simple rule, and after writing this article, I’ve been trying to keep track of mine. I normally do pretty well at reaching my ‘5 a day’. How about you?
Sara Jones
Spa, Wellness & Lifestyle Expert, Spa Consultant and Founder of Spa & Wellness Mexico magazine
www.spawellnessmexico.com
