- The British Heart Foundation (BHF) says that popular 'picky bits' such as houmous, falafel, and tzatziki can help individuals meet their daily five-a-day fruit and vegetable target.
- Specific examples include four sundried tomatoes or three heaped tablespoons of houmous counting as one portion, though beans and chickpeas can only contribute once to the daily total.
- Tzatziki, made with cucumber, also counts as a portion and can be further boosted by serving it with additional vegetable sticks for dipping.
- Homemade salsa, incorporating ingredients like tomatoes, peppers, and sweetcorn, is another effective way to add to the five-a-day, but consumers should check shop-bought versions for high salt or sugar content.
- Dell Stanford, senior dietitian at the BHF, said: “Summer picnics are a good reminder that your five-a-day can include more than the obvious choices, with beans, pulses and vegetable dips all helping you get closer to the daily target.”
IN FULL
The surprising ‘picky bits’ that count towards your five-a-day
