In New Zealand we have a five plus promotion that encourages us all to eat at least five servings of fruit or vegetables per day. It’s surprising how many people don’t eat much in the way of fruit or vegetables. I know at times cost can be a factor. At other times it’s diet choice.
During the eighteenth century it was quite common for people to eat a diet consisting almost entirely of meat. Tourists from France and farther afield were very surprised at the lack of vegetables in the English diet. British seamen died in large numbers with scurvy, which is caused by a lack of vitamin C. We obtain most of our vitamin C in fruit and vegetables.
Today, I just scraped in eating cranberries with my porridge, 2 x mandarins, mushrooms, onion, garlic, red peppers and tomato on our homemade pizza.
I know it’s difficult to get kids to eat vegetables some times. I remember having to sit at the table and not being allowed to move until I’d eaten my vegetables. Luckily, my tastes have changed with age and I enjoy most vegetables these days.
Do you manage to eat five plus fruit or vegetables per day?
Mostly a cost factor, but I almost never get 5 a day. I’m lucky when I get 2 servings in a day of fruits and veggies when most of mine come from a can.
Beth, I hear you about the cost. These days, with modern food processing, canned and frozen vegetables contain just as many vitamins and minerals as the fresh stuff.
We have the same promotion in the UK. I enjoy fruit and vegetables so I’m lucky in that way and do manage my 5 a day.
My downfall is chocolate. I know some writers have pieces of apple or carrot to chew on while they’re writing. Me? I hit the chocolate. Big time. :blush:
I’m a huge fruit and veggie eater….now. :lol: My tastes totally changed once I hit adulthood. Cost is a huge factor on what I buy, and it usually depends on what is in season.
My kids do great eating enough fruits/veggies. My hubs needs to work on it! I have to hide his veggies in food. lol
*Hangs head in shame* No I don’t which I really need to work on. But thanks for the interesting facts! You learn something new everyday right? :wink:
I confess I do not always get five a day. Or even three. Cost is one factor. I mostly buy frozen veggies for that reason alone. I’m generally not a big eater, and stuff has a habit of going bad before I can eat it all. I hate wasting money like that.
Shirley – I love chocolate too. I know myself well enough that I don’t buy chocolate very often!
Debra – LOL – I think it might be too late to train hubs now.
I don’t know about the US but prices seem to have shot up here recently. I always look for specials and coupons to stretch every dollar.
Karen – LOL you do indeed.
Heather – there’s such a great selection of frozen fruit and vegetables available these days. They taste great too, not like the mushy, colorless ones of the past.
I’m sure most days I don’t, although I had a healthy amount today with a lovely roast dinner.
We’re quite fortunate with my niece (nearly 19 months) in that she’ll eat practically anything – At the weekend she sat eating chopped (cooked) carrots and peas off her plate.
Shelley: I do eat a lot of frozen veggies, but the only frozen fruits at my store are berries, and they are always mushy and don’t taste as good as fresh. I do try to buy some fresh fruits when I can, but when it’s only you, and you can only get to a store once a week, it is hard to eat it all, even when I only get a few items or small portion, before it starts to spoil. I have that problem with lettuce, too. Whether I buy a head or a bag, I can’t eat it all before it goes bad. :???:
I definitely don’t get in my five a day, though I love most fruits and vegetables. I need to make it more of a priority, especially with all the yummy fall fruits and veggies just around the corner. :)
Heather – I’m the fruit eater in our house and I know what you mean about it going off quickly. I quite like the frozen berries, but you’re right about them going mushy. I make yoghurt parfaits and that sort of thing where mushiness doesn’t matter. I love blueberries and eat frozen ones like little sweets.
Cari – I’m hanging out for the soft fruits like apricots, peaches and nectarines that come with summer. :grin:
I can’t really afford it all that much being a full time college student, but I’ll certainly try to eat more fruits and vegetables now. :???: