Most of us not eating our 5-a-day, survey finds

12th June 2017 – Most adults in the UK eat nowhere near the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day, a survey has revealed.

The research commissioned by Diabetes UK also found that many of us are confused by what a portion actually means.

'Huge cause for concern'

"About 66% of adults that were surveyed are eating 3 or fewer portions of fruit and vegetables each day," explains Emma Elvin, the charity's clinical advisor. She adds: "Three quarters of the people didn't know what a recommended portion of vegetables was. Also, two thirds of those didn't know – or weren't able to identify – what a portion of fruit was."

Diabetes UK describes the results as "a huge cause for concern".

"We know that fruit and vegetables have lots of beneficial nutrients, Emma Elvin tells us. "They've got fibre to help with our gut health; there are vitamins and minerals for our general health; and they can help reduce our risk of certain illnesses, like strokes, heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity.

"And for people with diabetes, they're at higher risk of heart disease and stroke, so it's even more important for that group."

Grab a handful

One portion of fruit and vegetables is 80g. But Emma Elvin says there's a simpler way of judging portion size that doesn't involve searching for the kitchen scales. "A portion of fruit is quite easy," she says. "Think about a handful. So, an apple or a pear, or a handful of smaller fruits like berries.

"And with vegetables, it's thinking about how much of it is on your plate or how many tablespoons you're giving when you serve up the vegetables. So, it will be 3 tablespoons of cooked vegetables, which would cover around a third to a half of your plate."

'Expensive, time consuming and messy'

The online survey of 2,000 people found that 58% wanted to eat more vegetables. However, it also revealed some of the reasons putting people off:

• 23% thought vegetables are too expensive
• 16% found that vegetables tend to go off
• 9% said they took too long to prepare
• 5% said vegetables were too messy to eat

Emma Elvin says one way to get round some of these disincentives is to be flexible about how you buy your fruit and veg. "Whether you choose to buy fresh, frozen or tinned, as long as they're tinned in the natural juice rather than syrup – or unsalted water [rather than salted water] in the case of vegetables – then all of those still have the same benefits. So, for shelf life, maybe choosing frozen or tinned is better for some people."

The survey has been commissioned by Diabetes UK to promote its 'Food you love' healthy eating campaign during Diabetes Week. The campaign features recipes and tips to help people cook the food they enjoy in a healthier way and is endorsed by celebrity chefs including Jamie Oliver, Prue Leith, 'Deliciously' Ella and Angela Hartnett.