Why do we miss out?
Some people genuinely don’t like fruit and vegetables but a bigger problem is that many of us feel we don’t have time for them. Busy lifestyles and long days mean than meals are often quickly prepared or takeaways; and vegetables can be low on the list when we are feeling hungry. Luckily, it is actually very easy to get your five-a-day and you don’t have to be superhuman to do it. Nor does it have to cost the earth…
Read on for 6 easy tips to getting your five-a-day and see how easy it can be to do something simple for your health.
- Go for soup – Homemade soups are a fantastic source of vegetables and many sandwich shops do a good range of fresh soup at lunchtime. Have a bowl of soup with your sandwich at lunchtime or crusty bread at the weekend is a delicious way to eat more vegetables and works really well for anyone who has a hard time eating vegetables.
- Make sure one third of your plate at dinner is vegetables or salad. This is an easy habit to get into and it can be as simple as a chopped tomato, some frozen peas or some steamed broccoli.
- Keep dried fruit in your handbag, in the car or at work. It keeps well in an airtight bag or container and means you always have the option of fruit if you need a snack during the day.
- Add lots of root vegetables to stews. Turnip, carrots, parsnip and even sweet potato taste fantastic when cooked in beef and lamb stew and boost your vitamin C and A.
- Love beans? Baked beans count as one of your five a day as do any other beans including kidney beans, chickpeas and butter beans. Add kidney beans to salads (great with some good dressing), try baked beans on toast for a quick and nutritious snack or go for a sandwich with hummus.
- Leave out the meat. Try a vegetarian dinner once a week. Use beans, lentils or nuts instead of meat to boost your intake of vegetables. Look online for recipes or buy a good vegetarian cookbook.
Eating Five-a-day? What’s in it for you?
- 80% less stomach cancer
- 45% less dementia
- 31% less bowel cancer
- 12% less heart disease
- Less constipation and bloating
- Lower weight
- Fewer wrinkles..