We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

5-a-day

flsl
flsl Posts: 75 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
How many of you manage to eat five portions of fruit and veg a day? (Apols if asked before)

And how do you do it?

I used to think my family were relatively healthy but, though we might eat 3-4 different veggies some days, really it wouldnt add up to one full portion a day. (i.e a handful)

Replies

  • privatetime
    privatetime Posts: 118
    I am vegan. So, my entire diet is plant-based, that's how. ;-) Okay. Okay. That's too simplistic. I could drink Coke and eat nothing but Doritos 'Sweet Chili Heat' tortilla chips and still be vegan.

    For the 5, I often drink a half glass of acai juice mixed wth beet juice in the morning, with a piece of whole fruit, such as a banana or an apple. A snack might be a glass of tomato juice with 4-10 nuts (depending on the type), or some crudite (plus some nuts), or a bowl of baby spinach with wee bit of balsamic glaze, or a cup of edamame, or a small bowl of vegetable broth with green onion, fennel, nd bok choy. Dinner might be a vegetable rice or pasta dish, or may include a large salad.

    I've always preferred my vegetables raw, even when I was a child. So I like to snack on them. I'm one of those weirdos who can just eat a mouthful or two of lettuce right off the head.
  • My snacks are usually fruit and/or veggies, plus I have veggies and/or fruit with every meal. My oatmeal in the morning has blueberries. I usually have steamed veggies for dinner and snacks in between.
  • tlinval
    tlinval Posts: 175 Member
    I try to have a fruit or veg with every meal, sometimes two servings. Snacks I try for it, too. I try to plan the veggies first and work my meal around those, since veggies are more difficult for me than fruits. Right now frozen veggies are my friends, I add steamed veggies to everything--pasta, Lean Cuisines, etc. I use Laughing Cow cheese to change things up a bit, it can make veggies seem "creamed". Yum!
  • flsl
    flsl Posts: 75 Member
    Thanks for replies so far and different approaches

    Yes maybe if I was a vegetarian it would help!
    Lunches with salads and homemade soups are a start.

    I worked out that, in order to eat 5 a day, me and my fella would need to be buying 70 portions of fruit and veg a week!

    If we do half that, Id be amazed.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I do, in fact I often get more than that. But it's not always 5 different veggies. Many days I have 2 servings of the same veggie for dinner.

    A serving is only 1/2 cup of vegetables or fruit (1 cup of leafy greens). A big apple or a banana can be more than 1 serviing. If I'm having greens like kale or collard greens I'll often eat 2 - 2.5 cups at one meal.
This discussion has been closed.