Challenge Blog

Is getting your 5-a-day of veggies and fruits one of your main healthy eating goals?

• Enjoy it as a breakfast smoothie with Greek yogurt and frozen raspberries
• Make it your after dinner treat by blending it with low-fat chocolate milk and bananas
• Drink a glass before you go to bed at night to aid digestion

The NHS Livewell programme cites five reasons to get your five portions

1. Fruit and vegetables taste delicious and there's so much variety to choose from.
2. They're a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium.
3. They're an excellent source of dietary fibre, which helps maintain a healthy gut and prevent constipation and other digestion problems. A diet high in fibre can also reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
4. They can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
5. Fruit and vegetables contribute to a healthy and balanced diet. 

• at least 80g of one variety of whole fruit and/or vegetable and at least 150ml of a different variety of 100% fruit and/or vegetable juice, or  
• a minimum of 80g of one variety of whole fruit and/or vegetable and at least 80g of another variety of whole fruit and/or vegetable.