If you read anything in the press about how much fruit or vegetable you’re supposed to eat, it might end up leaving you overwhelmed and feeling as though there’s no way that you could ever fit that much into your day. The good news is that there are things that you can do to make sure that you fit them in easily.

Nowadays, you will find that there are logos on packaging which will inform you that the food that you’re consuming is part of your 5 a day. This means that you should never be in any doubt of the fact that you should be eating the foods that you’re choosing.

The first thing that you should remember is that each of the foods only counts once. For example, having 5 portions of apple per day would only count as one of your 5 a day. Experts say that the more colours of fruit and vegetables that you eat, the more good vitamins and minerals you will get out of them.

Here are some tips for how to fit your 5 a day into your hectic schedule. 

• Remember that fruit juice counts. You can buy orange or apple juice (and much more) which contains pure fruit, and this means that it is very easy for you to fit at least one portion into your day before breakfast. If you are struggling, you could have a glass of fruit juice (but a different flavour, remember what I said about types) with another meal, meaning that this will have counted for two of your portions.
• Dried fruit is an excellent snack that you can carry around with you to eat at any point during the day. I find that this are good to have with your lunch, and you can buy them in handy packets which contain the right amount for one portion of your 5 a day. In addition to this, you might find that you will enjoy sprinkling some dried fruit over your cereal in the morning. This doesn’t feel like too much extra food, yet it all counts towards your daily total, meaning that you have an excellent start to your day.
• If you find that you struggle for energy in the morning, try swapping your mid morning biscuits for a banana. These will help you to feel much more energetic and will boost your mood. Not only this, but they will have accounted for one of your 5 a day.
• Grapes are a good thing to keep around your house. A portion is about one handful, and it is so easy to grab these and just nibble on them while you’re watching television that there’s no excuse not to, really. 

Don’t worry if you can’t fit all of your 5 a day in at the beginning. You should build it up so that it fits nicely into your life without leaving you stressed.