Embracing a healthy living lifestyle should without doubt include eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. On average people who include more fruit and vegetables in their daily diet lead healthier lives and live longer.
Fruit and vegetables provide an abundance of health benefits including:
• Reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
• Reducing the risk of developing some cancers such a bowel and lung cancer
• Reducing the risk of developing obesity or type 2 diabetes
• Increasing consumption of fibre, vitamins and minerals
• Controlling cholesterol levels and keeping blood sugar levels steady
• Eating foods such as vegetables that are lower in calories per cup instead of some other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie intake
Fruit and vegetables add colour, flavour, and texture to any meal. By adding a variety of fruit and vegetables to your dishes you are sure to receive all the nutrients your body needs. Different colours of fruits mean different combinations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, dietary fibre, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, and vitamin C. Potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure, dietary fibre is important for proper bowel function and helps reduce cholesterol, folate aids the creation of red blood cells, while vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and vitamin C heals cuts and keeps teeth and gums healthy.
Below are 10 easy steps to including more fruit and vegetables in your diet:
1.Ditch the nachos/crisps/taytos with dip and try crunchy vegetables with humus
2.Have an omelette for dinner with carrots, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, onions and low fat cheddar cheese
3.Heat up a mug of vegetable soup for lunch
4.Add strawberries and sliced apple to low fat yoghurt for a snack
5.Have a smoothie for breakfast with frozen strawberries, banana and almond milk
6.Make a homemade pizza and add vegetable toppings only
7.Cook a baked potato and add beans on top
8.Add blueberries and raspberries to your oatmeal, porridge or cereal
9.Keep frozen vegetables in your fridge freezer
10.Add spinach, chick peas or baby carrots to your salads
