Hopefully this article will go some way to clearing up which foods and drinks count towards your 5 a day.
Pretty much all fruit, vegetables and fruit drinks count towards your 5 A DAY, and you don’t have to stop at five because
there’s no limit to how much fruit and veg you can eat per day. 5 a day is merely the recommended minimum intake. You should always try to eat a variety of foods though such as meat and oats, rather than just fruit, to ensure you get all the fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your body needs.
Unless you eat no fruit and veg at all, you probably won’t have to change your diet that much to reach the 5 a day. Fruit and veg can be found in loads of different foods including some takeaways and ready meals which means you don’t have to stop eating them, you just need to know what to look out for.
Food and drink that count towards your 5 a day:
Chilled, fresh and frozen fruit and veg
Juice and smoothies made from 100% fruit count
Dried fruit and vegetables
Vegetables soups, stews, and pies
Sandwich fillings such as tomato and cucumber
Fruit and vegetables contained in convenience foods such as ready meals (these ready-made foods can be high in salt, sugar and fat, so they should only ever be eaten in moderation)
What doesn’t count?
Dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals
Potatoes and other related vegetables such as yams and cassava (because they contain a lot of starch)
