February 2012
| Getting Your 5 A Day! Nov 08 |
|
A recent survey commissioned by the UK Government reported that most of us are not eating the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. In fact only 12% of Britons actually achieve this target and another 12% of us eat none at all!
If you’re over 45 the survey suggests you’re more likely to reach the target than your children. On average we eat only 2½ portions each day with gender, age and social grouping all influencing our success rate. This dismal record may, at least in part, be due to the fact that we don’t understand what a portion is - if you’re confused by what is and isn’t one of your 5 a day check out the useful information supplied by the Department of Health at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/FiveADay/index.htm It’s important to remember that 5 portions is in fact a MINIMUM. This couldn’t be clearer when you realise that Canadians are encouraged to eat 5 to 10 portions a day and the Danish Government suggests 6. Eating this amount needn’t be difficult or expensive, follow our suggestions to help you get at least 5.... • Add some mixed berries or stewed fruits to your breakfast cereal or porridge include a glass of juice such as our tasty Fruit Hit smoothie and you’ve already totted up two portions! • If your children take a lunchbox to school then add in a couple of tasty snacks such as the Snapz Apple Crisps or Nakd lemon raisins. A tablespoon of dried fruits counts as a portion and if you pop in some raw veggies such as baby sweetcorn, carrot sticks and sugar snap peas your little one will be ahead of the game! • The afternoon is a classic time to reach for an energy booster so beat that mid afternoon slump by choosing a banana or some dried fruits combined with mixed nuts or seeds to stabilise energy levels. Ref: TNS Worldpanel “Health of Britain: Perspectives on Nutrition 2008” The Shape of Britain No 1 Research Report August 2008 |