Five a day – are you and your family eating enough fruit and vegetables?

Recent research conducted over a period of ten years showed that there were four basic factors that could increase a person’s life by 14 years. These are:

• not smoking;
• drinking alcohol moderately;
• taking regular exercise;
• eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

However the results of a survey commissioned by Appletiser¹ released today shows that although 92 per cent of people questioned were aware of the five a day recommendation only 45 per cent followed the rule.

In the 18 to 24 year-olds group, only 30 per cent manage five a day and four per cent eat no fruit or vegetables at all!

So how can we increase our own intake and make sure our children are eating properly? The following tips will help:

• A glass of unsweetened juice counts as one portion.
• Add a fruit like a banana to a bowl of cereal or plain joghurt.
• If your children don’t like a certain vegetable cooked, offer it raw, or vice versa.
• Try different combinations for salads like a Waldorf – apple and celery with walnuts in a little mayonnaise (omit the nuts if your children don’t like them).
• If you’re having dips offer vegetable sticks instead of crisps and bread.
• Frozen vegetables are as good as fresh and means you can keep more in stock.
• Buy fruit and vegetables in season – they're cheaper.
• For children use a star chart – one star per portion, and a offer treat at the weekend if they manage five every day during the week.
• Don’t give up – establishing a healthy eating pattern is one of the best advantages you can give your children.

¹Adult soft drink range Appletiser, is accredited with the official 5-A-Day logo. Made from 100 per cent fruit juice with a touch of sparkle, each Appletiser or Peartiser 275ml bottle contains no added sugar and no preservatives or artificial colourants.