A talk and demonstration aimed at promoting awareness of well- being in ourselves. Come and sample great tasting fruit and veg made before your very eyes as Alan shows you how to put together some great tasting concoctions. According to the British Dietary Association fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables all count. Also, 100% fruit or vegetable juice, pure fruit juice smoothies and pulses count. Remember that potatoes, yam, plantain, and cassava do not count towards your five-a-day because they are starchy foods.
Given the many health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables, we should all be trying to meet the governments five-a-day target. Yet as a nation we eat less than three portions of fruit and veg a day, with only 15% of adults meeting the target. In children it is even less.
Why are we not eating enough of this nutrition? Perhaps people are still confused about how many portions they need a day, what counts as a portion, or even what constitutes a fruit or vegetable? This Food Fact Sheet explores some of these questions, giving you tasty examples of how to get your five-a-day.
Why are fruits and vegetables so beneficial? As well as tasting great, fruits and vegetables are incredibly versatile, packed with essential vitamins and minerals and a variety of phytochemicals (naturally occurring plant substances) that are vital for good health.
Many of these nutrients also act as powerful antioxidants, protecting the body from harmful free radicals (found in pollutants) that can cause disease. Studies have shown that people who eat plenty of fruit and veg have a lower risk of developing many diseases, including high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease and stroke, and some cancers (including mouth, throat, stomach, colon and lung cancers).In fact, it has been estimated that diet is likely to contribute to the development of one-third of all cancers, and that eating more fruits and vegetables is the second most important cancer prevention strategy, after stopping smoking.