Veg (and fruit)

[Radders]

I was talking to someone the other day who's been advised to try and eat a rainbow of fruit and veg (80% veg) over a week.

It made me wonder how many of us aim to follow the five a day guidance and how often we manage it?

I'm vegetarian so probably not very typical but I probably average 7-8 portions a day but I do have the odd day when it drops below 5. Today was fairly typical of a weekday:

Breakfast: a small banana (mashed in soya milk with ground chia seeds to slow down absorption and followed immediately by a 4 mile cycle)

Mid morning: raisin box as I was heading a bit low

Lunch: small apple followed by a walk

Afternoon before the ride home: another raisin box (I know that doesn't count!)

Dinner: massive salad containing Romaine, red cabbage, celery, carrot, cucumber, red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, followed by strawberries and raspberries. I estimate the salad to total about 4 portions, taking a portion as 80g. The fruit was 1.5, giving me a daily total of 8.5.

 

[Ljc]

I don't usually eat that much fruit or veg . An apple and tangerine daily as I love them.
And one or two vegetables with dinner. Unless it's a salad.

 

[Robin]

Is that all you ate, or have you just given us the fruit and veg component? I was just wondering where you get your iron and B vitamins from.

 

[Northerner]

I usually have an apple and a banana each day, and meas usually have a tomato and/or salad leaf component, or mixed veg. As I cater only for myself I don't buy a big variety of things because they would go off before they were eaten, so the mixed veg is frozen 🙂

 

[Ljc]

Is that all you ate, or have you just given us the fruit and veg component? I was just wondering where you get your iron and B vitamins from.

I've only mentioned the fruit and veg I eat.
Tonight we're having rump steak with mushrooms a few chips , fried onions I've not decided on the veg yet, I could do with some ideas please

 

[Robin]

I've only mentioned the fruit and veg I eat.
Tonight we're having rump steak with mushrooms a few chips , fried onions I've not decided on the veg yet, I could do with some ideas please

Oops, sorry, I was thinking about Radders when I posted. I can't imagine you would survive on an apple and a tangerine all day!
I often do grilled tomatoes with steak. (Fried onions are a must, obv!)

 

[Ljc]

Oops, sorry, I was thinking about Radders when I posted. I can't imagine you would survive on an apple and a tangerine all day!
I often do grilled tomatoes with steak. (Fried onions are a must, obv!)

No worries. I laughed out loud when I thought you may have meant me as
well 🙂

 

[Ljc]

Ah grilled tomatoes are just the ticket. Thanks.

 

[Greymouser]

I am vegetarian ( well, in fact a pescatarian, who has no dairy, ) too, so veg is normally not a problem for me. I am finding that Avoiding bananas to be annoying, because I really do like them. My pharmacist says I should avoid them because of the meds I am on.

 

[Ljc]

I am vegetarian ( well, in fact a pescatarian, who has no dairy, ) too, so veg is normally not a problem for me. I am finding that Avoiding bananas to be annoying, because I really do like them. My pharmacist says I should avoid them because of the meds I am on.

That's a shame

 

[Northerner]

I am vegetarian ( well, in fact a pescatarian, who has no dairy, ) too, so veg is normally not a problem for me. I am finding that Avoiding bananas to be annoying, because I really do like them. My pharmacist says I should avoid them because of the meds I am on.

Possibly due to potassium content? I remember being in a similar situation after diagnosis because of some of the meds I was on, although I can't remember which it was now.

 

[Hazel]

I average at least 5 - 8 portions of fruit/veg a day. Probably a lot more more actually

Trying to lose weight with SW - most of my food (60%) comes from fruit/veg.

My b gl is in the 5s, insulin intake down from over 100 units a day, to less than 10.

 

[Radders]

Oops, sorry, I was thinking about Radders when I posted. I can't imagine you would survive on an apple and a tangerine all day!
I often do grilled tomatoes with steak. (Fried onions are a must, obv!)

I was focusing on the fruit and veg. I am not sure that I need much iron now I am past a certain age! I do eat dark chocolate which is allegedly a reasonable source, along with dairy, marmite and the occasional bit of Burgen for the Bvits. I eat lots of nuts and seeds too, not sure what vitamins are in those but I believe they have lots of other minerals. I eat them mainly for protein and fat and because I like them.
I eat quorn and soya too; do they have iron and B vits? I would imagine so.

 

[Robin]

I was focusing on the fruit and veg. I am not sure that I need much iron now I am past a certain age! I do eat dark chocolate which is allegedly a reasonable source, along with dairy, marmite and the occasional bit of Burgen for the Bvits. I eat lots of nuts and seeds too, not sure what vitamins are in those but I believe they have lots of other minerals. I eat them mainly for protein and fat and because I like them.
I eat quorn and soya too; do they have iron and B vits? I would imagine so.

Ah, right, thank you. I was asking because my daughter doesn't eat much red meat, and dairy exacerbates her eczema, and I wonder if she misses out on anything. I think soya has iron in it, and I reckon we get our B vits from wheat germ and eggs. I eat seeds and nuts because I like them and they're lower carb, but they also have the benefit of being loaded with stuff that's good for you!
I realised I hadn't actually answered the question posed by the thread title! I normally manage 5 a day, with some salad and a couple of pieces of fruit at lunchtime, and a couple of different veg in the evening. (This time of year I'm continually nibbling raspberries and blackberries from the garden, too.)

 

[Greymouser]

Possibly due to potassium content? I remember being in a similar situation after diagnosis because of some of the meds I was on, although I can't remember which it was now.

Absolutely so Northerner. I know why but that doesn't make me regret the decision any less, even knowing the alternative is unpleasant. 😉

I too find I am nibbling whenever I can. At the moment that is mostly home grown tomatoes, which I will continue to do so if I can beat the slugs to them!

 

[Mark Parrott]

I don't tend to count how much fruit/veg i'm eating but generally I'm pretty good. Fruit intake is limited to berries normally. I eat lots of med veg, salads & leafy veg.

 

[Radders]

I don't tend to count how much fruit/veg i'm eating but generally I'm pretty good. Fruit intake is limited to berries normally. I eat lots of med veg, salads & leafy veg.

Hi Mark, thanks for responding. Don't you include those when you post on the "what did you eat yesterday" thread?

 

[Mark Parrott]

Hi Mark, thanks for responding. Don't you include those when you post on the "what did you eat yesterday" thread?

Sometimes I do. I usually just say 'veg' rather than listing them all. I will make a more detailed list next time.🙂

 

[Vicsetter]

Absolutely so Northerner. I know why but that doesn't make me regret the decision any less, even knowing the alternative is unpleasant. 😉

I too find I am nibbling whenever I can. At the moment that is mostly home grown tomatoes, which I will continue to do so if I can beat the slugs to them!

Strange! Lots of food has more potassium than bananas, so you should avoid leafy greens (a cup of swiss chard has more potassium than a banana), one avacado contains twice as much potassium as a banana) baked potatoes, sweet potatoes etc. your potassium levels can be increased by ACE inhibitors.
Bananas do contain Tyramine which can interfere with anti-depression drugs: MAO inhibitors (Nardil, Parnate)
have a look at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/..._1898078.html?slideshow=true#gallery/251682/0
It also appears that cranberry juice is not recomended if you are on Lipitor or other statins, and of course grapefruit is no friend of statins nor of immunosuppressants, calcium-channel blockers (Plendil, Sular, Procardia), and benzodiazepines (Valium, Triazolam, Halcion)

 

[HOBIE]

I was talking to someone the other day who's been advised to try and eat a rainbow of fruit and veg (80% veg) over a week.

It made me wonder how many of us aim to follow the five a day guidance and how often we manage it?

I'm vegetarian so probably not very typical but I probably average 7-8 portions a day but I do have the odd day when it drops below 5. Today was fairly typical of a weekday:

Breakfast: a small banana (mashed in soya milk with ground chia seeds to slow down absorption and followed immediately by a 4 mile cycle)

Mid morning: raisin box as I was heading a bit low

Lunch: small apple followed by a walk

Afternoon before the ride home: another raisin box (I know that doesn't count!)

Dinner: massive salad containing Romaine, red cabbage, celery, carrot, cucumber, red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, followed by strawberries and raspberries. I estimate the salad to total about 4 portions, taking a portion as 80g. The fruit was 1.5, giving me a daily total of 8.5.

Impressed ! I will try & do better 😉