How many servings of fruits and veggies do you eat per day?

larovers
larovers Posts: 100
edited January 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I have a personal trainer and she said I should eat between 8-10 servings per day and by servings she does mean cups (like one serving equals one cup). I am having a hard enough time eating 5 cups a day but doing it , some days I hit 7...but gosh I get gassy (sorry TMI).
Is eating 5 a day not enough?
Also, I love coconut water and drink it daily -12 oz with my recovery/protein powder but she said it has too much sugar in it. I LOVE my coconut water, because it helps my electrolytes so much and I also do not drink the one with added juice...just plain ole coconut water, did not think that had so much sugar. Does anybody else think that is bad ?
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Replies

  • ZombieEarhart
    ZombieEarhart Posts: 320 Member
    Is your personal trainer a dietician? She might not really be qualified to be giving you food advice.

    I try to get as much fruit/veggies as I can, and my max is usually 7 servings, and I feel pretty good about that!
  • larovers
    larovers Posts: 100
    I know she is certified in training but not sure nutrition.
  • hanniejong
    hanniejong Posts: 556 Member
    I would eat 2-3 serves of fruit per day and 3-4 differnt veggies not counting potatoes.
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
    ok, thats way way over the top, a serving is the size of your palm, that you can close your fingers around.

    Precision-Nutrition_Palm-Sized-Portions_Vegetable-Example_Male2.jpg

    5-7 servings a day is totally fine.

    personally I have 6-8.

    she's your trainer, just eat what you want within your calories.

    EDIT: the government recommends 5 or more, servings of fruit and/or vegetables a day. so 5 servings made up of either.
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    I eat about 8 servings per day on average which includes both fruits, and veggies, even the starchy ones like potatoes as long as they are not in the form of french fries.

    I love me some veggies. However, I do find tomatoes repulsive, and will not touch them.
  • m0ll3pprz
    m0ll3pprz Posts: 193 Member
    I love coconut water for exactly the reason you mentioned. I find it to be extremely hydrating and I enjoy it after bouts with my treadmill or exercising in the heat. I wouldn't worry about the sugar content much. I think my coconut water has 90 calories but I can live with that. You sound like an active person who can afford some coconut water here and there. Good luck with your fitness journey :flowerforyou:
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
    I do find tomatoes repulsive, and will not touch them.

    :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

    not even in bruschetta!?!

    Italian+Bruschetta+with+olives.jpg
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    I do find tomatoes repulsive, and will not touch them.

    :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

    not even in bruschetta!?!

    Italian+Bruschetta+with+olives.jpg

    Hahaha heavens no. It is a running joke with my friends. I cannot tell you how many times I have found cans of tomato soup in my car seat just because they thought it was a good place for it.
  • Nicolee_2014
    Nicolee_2014 Posts: 1,572 Member
    I don't have as much fruit as I probably should unless it is in a smoothie. I have to be in the mood. I love a good fruit salad but I hate cutting it all up & it usually is way high in calories/sugar at the end of it.

    Vegies I probably have a lot more of. I will have a cup of mixed veggies for lunch that I make my own lemon sauce to coat them & then for dinner I probably have 2 cups worth of salad stuff. It is hard to fit it all in at times. Normally fruit n veg go off before it gets eaten in this house!

    I'm also with 1 of the other replies, unless the p/t is a professional nutritionist etc. I wouldn't listen to her. Good luck with it all.
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
    I do find tomatoes repulsive, and will not touch them.

    :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

    not even in bruschetta!?!

    Italian+Bruschetta+with+olives.jpg

    Hahaha heavens no. It is a running joke with my friends. I cannot tell you how many times I have found cans of tomato soup in my car seat just because they thought it was a good place for it.

    loool. thats funny :P your friends sound cheeky :P
  • larovers
    larovers Posts: 100
    You guys are making me laugh with the tomato thing....haha!
    Okay so 8-10 is too much. I think I would be FAR to gassy.
    How on earth would somebody think coconut water has too much sugar? it tastes salty.....like I am drinking sweat.
    she told me to use water in my breakfast shakes (I have a protein powder breakfast shake) instead of coconut water
    She seems to have something against coconuts...she also says coconut oil is bad because it is saturated fat but everyone else I know (including our naturopath) thinks coconut oil is the best thing since sliced bread....go figure?
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Shes not a nutritionist...or up on the latest nutritional information either. Id continue to see her if you like her as a trainer, but I don't think id listen to her advice on food.
  • SteelySunshine
    SteelySunshine Posts: 1,092 Member
    Some days I only get in 3 or 4 some days I get in around 8. I am aiming to get in a lot more fiber than a number of veggies. I eat a lot of black beans, pinto beans, and lentils things like that. I have gone back to eating a bowl of oatmeal a day as well. But, for filling me up a bunch of veggies really can't be beat. The problem is that if I do get in 8 servings it's very hard on those days to even come close to my calorie goal.
  • larovers
    larovers Posts: 100
    yea I agree. I mean coconut water and oil is like one of the healthiest things in the world...isn't it? coconut water is full of electrolytes and much better than sports drinks and coconut oil helps thyroid function and a whole other host of things. Sure, it is saturated fat but it is different, all the new studies show this. I like her workouts so I think I will stick with this.
  • Lunachic77
    Lunachic77 Posts: 434 Member
    I average about 6-8 servings (mostly vegetables). 8-10 sounds rather high, but it's not a bad thing. I think as long as your getting in 5 servings you are doing well, in fact even better than the average person. Just make sure you aren't neglecting your other food groups and hitting those goals as well. Great job on your loss so far! :)
  • happydaze71
    happydaze71 Posts: 339 Member
    I don't eat fruit as I'm intolerant, but I eat as much veggies as I can get in my face.
    And don't get me started on the hype that is the recent coconut phenomenon!!! Literally no long term studies have been done but amazingly it reverses Alzheimer's, etc. makes me so mad! If you insist upon having your coconut water then have it but whilst you are questioning your trainer, you are not qualified to say that this is actually good for you either.
    I'm not trying to be rude, just making a point. You are paying someone to whip you into shape but then when you don't like what you hear you decide you know better.
    You sound fit and healthy (apart from the gassy thing lol) but maybe you and your trainer aren't suited to each other?
  • Alexandra289
    Alexandra289 Posts: 330 Member
    I probably have 8-10... but it can certainly mess with my stomach a bit sometimes!!
  • Sapporo
    Sapporo Posts: 693 Member
    Health Canada recommends 7-8 servings per day and that is what I am for. I get 10 in some days. It is a lot easier to stay within a calorie goal when you eat a lot of veggies and some fruit.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    0-2
  • ThriftyChica12
    ThriftyChica12 Posts: 373 Member
    yes on the "add more fruits and veggies" thing

    no on the "eliminate coconut water" thing

    as long as u are drinking the unsweetened coconut water, u are fine :)

    be careful of others trying to mess with your food too much. read, study, find what works for you. stick with your beliefs and experience on this journey. everyone tells u something different, all sounds convincing.

    that's why u gotta go with what works for you.

    that being said, GO VEGAN NOW! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
    I KID! i KID! :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    I usually get about a dozen different kinds (and I try to eat at least two vegetables to every one fruit) but I generally don't eat servings that large.
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 675 Member
    For dinner alone, I usually have a whole zucchini, a whole cucumber, one or two tomatoes, and 10+ spears of asparagus. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be my fruits (bananas, apples, pears, berries).
  • bokchoybaby
    bokchoybaby Posts: 62 Member
    I generally eat 10-12 servings, mostly vegetable. I don't think eating tons of vegetables is necessarily a bad thing but if you're not accustomed to eating what she recommend and you are considering it it's best to add in more fruit and vegetables slowly since some people suffer from discomfort with sudden increases in fiber.
  • larovers
    larovers Posts: 100
    how big are your servings (for everyone who posted on this thread). My 5 servings are a cup each. What is a typical "serving"
  • momzeeee
    momzeeee Posts: 475 Member
    I'm not a big fan of either-right now I average 1 banana a day for fruit and then veggies I usually have a few ounces of onions, bell peppers and lettuce. With an occasional handful of cauliflower thrown in.

    When growing season starts in my state, then I will consume ridiculously large amounts of fresh blueberries and cherries, from the U Pick farms. Love both of these, just too expensive to buy at the store when they're not in season.
  • snowmanluv
    snowmanluv Posts: 200 Member
    General rule: 5 veggies, 2 fruits

    I am starting out so I had to cut back on some of my sugars both per nutrionist and sugar count on here.

    I do a tsp of coconut oil for thyroid every morning. I don't add it on here.

    It's easier said than done.

    am--egg white omelette with spinach, mushroom, peppers, onions, tomatoes (pick 1 or 2)

    snack- veggies and dip ( i use greek non fat yogur mix in hidden valley ranch powder to taste)

    Lunch - 2 veggies - salad, or 2 on the side

    snack pm - apple

    dinner - meat - 2 veggies

    If you have a huge salad for dinner or lunch --- that's at least 3 or 4 .
    If you like smoothies...blend. add protein powder, fruit, little kale or spinach. sounds crazy. but you don't taste the spinach or kale. I don't eat either of these because of thyroid but I did put carrots in mine the other day and didn't notice.
  • sunnyskys2013
    sunnyskys2013 Posts: 159 Member
    You guys are making me laugh with the tomato thing....haha!
    Okay so 8-10 is too much. I think I would be FAR to gassy.
    How on earth would somebody think coconut water has too much sugar? it tastes salty.....like I am drinking sweat.
    she told me to use water in my breakfast shakes (I have a protein powder breakfast shake) instead of coconut water
    She seems to have something against coconuts...she also says coconut oil is bad because it is saturated fat but everyone else I know (including our naturopath) thinks coconut oil is the best thing since sliced bread....go figure?
    Don't it make you mad when people lump all the fats together there are good fats and bad fats. Coconut and olive oil is a good fats as are nuts and avocados.
  • sunnyskys2013
    sunnyskys2013 Posts: 159 Member
    This is interesting.
    In a 12-week study 40 fair ladies between the ages of 20 and 40 were randomly split into two groups. Each group was given approximately two tablespoons of either soybean oil or coconut oil and instructed to follow a reduced calorie eating plan and to walk 50 minutes a day.

    At the end of the study the "coconut oil group" increased their good cholesterol, reduced their bad cholesterol and significantly reduced their waist circumference (stomach fat).

    The soybean oil group basically had the exact OPPOSITE results on their cholesterol levels and they didn't lose any stomach fat.

    Verily, the truth has now been bestowed upon thine ears!

    I pray you, don't be fooled by clever advertising. Organic sources of fat like coconut oil and butter (from grass fed cows) are full of nutrition and are MUCH better for you than processed vegetable oils that cause inflammation in your body.
  • watfordjc
    watfordjc Posts: 304 Member
    One - 1/4 Litre of fruit juice.

    Not really into fruits and vegetables at the moment.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I don't think I do. I like fruit so I often have some once or twice a day, and I have some veggies in the evening and the random tomato and avocado etc. I think I typically have maybe 4 servings a day. I know I should eat more veggies, but meh.

    Today I'm at 1 serving so far, and it was the pizza sauce in my muffin pizzas at lunch... I just typically go for snacks that fill me up more...
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