General Chat

OH was told by someone medical that a portion was the size of your fist and that the important thing was to eat different colours. We've found that quite helpful - whether it is right or not is another matter!! Kate

There is a 5ADAY official website you can google to find and it's very helpful. I think a portion is usually a handful, or 80g of fresh fruit/veg - for whole fruit its a medium apple, orange, banana etc. For dried fruit its about a dessertspoon of raisins, or a few dried apricots for example as dried fruit is quite concentrated. You should not really go for more than one portion of dried fruit per day because of the sugar content, and have it at mealtimes rather than as a snack to protect your teeth. For veg on a plate at dinner time, a largeish serving spoon is about right for a portion. For salad, its a cereal bowl sized helping. A glass of juice counts as a portion, but if you have more than one glass of juice in a day, only the first counts (because you really need the fibre from fruit and not just the vitamins, and the fibre is removed from juice). Potatoes don't count at all as they are starchy - so no, you can't get a portion by having a bag of chips. Angela

Jim,the best way to have your fruit portion,stick to grapes,preferably in liquid form,much easier to consume and you dont have to worry about anything after a while.I did have to laugh at 'Grannie Annies'first description of a 'Portion' though,I wonder if she really meant it?. Hal.PMSL.:o))>

alot of countries are noe recommending 7 a day rather than 5. a portion is half a cup - 1 apple, 1 orange, handful of dried fruit, all count as a portion. although in Asda the other day I noticed that had packets containing portions of fruit - 6 1/4' slices of kiwi and 6 cubes of melon (1/2' x 1/2' x 1/2') - always thought it should be more than that though.

I have been told that variety is more important than actual quantities - it is better, in other words, to have a teaspoon full of ten different fruit and veg per day, than to eat one orange and one apple, or a whole cabbage. A potato contains hardly any vitamins, so is more useful as a carbohydrate, as is rice. OC

I'm Type 2 Diabetic so have to eat a sensible diet. For main meal of day I'll usually have at least 5 different veg incl spuds. I also have a pud' one apple sliced and one portion of other fruit topped with a plain low fat yoghurt. Sizes of portions of each veg and type of veg' can only be a personal decision. I had to see a dietician and the above met with her approval. Hope this helps. Ron

Well Kris, I think that's just the 'powers that be' being picky - they're still veggies!! Avocado's have a high fat content, but are not classed as lard, and lemons & limes have a high acid content but aren't classed as vinegar!!!! :o) maggie

Maggie, I suspect that it is because of the high starch content. They are classed as carbohydrates

O.C. I can comfortably hold a Swede or a Pineapple or a Lettuce or a Mango or a small Pumpkin. Oo er missus!! I think I'll stick with Pink's measure.

How is it that I have been brought up to believe a potato is a VEGETABLE, yet it's not on the '5 fruit & veg a day' list!!!! Come to that, neither is rice. maggie

apparently a portion is a large desert spoon!! Read that on Gillian McKeith's (sp??) site! Hope this helps xx

What they don’t tell me is how big a portion. All I know is it is somewhere between a Swede, a Pineapple, a Lettuce, A Cauliflower and a Mango, or a Blueberry, a Blackberry, a Bean, a Pea and a Grape.

Grampa A portion is the amount you can comfortably hold in your hand. Don't worry - you won't overdose if you have too much, lol. OC

I am being urged to consume 5 helpings of fruit and vegetables a day.