10 a day!!!!

What is the definition of "premature death" that we are supposed to be trying to avoid and that all this fruit and veg could (which means it also might not) prevent? A year or two earlier than you might have died anyway?

Other recent news claims the average lifespan will be 90 by 2030.

What are we supposed to die of nowadays? It isn't infectious diseases any more. Things like heart disease and cancer are, by and large, age related so in one sense people who die of them are dying of old age.

Some more.
Here’s a quick list of the nutrients and minerals in your common vegetables.
Green beans are a good source of vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and potassium.
Dried beans provide protein, B vitamins, folic acid, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
Cabbage is high in vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, potassium, and fiber.
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A and K, and potassium.
Yellow corn is high in beta-carotene and lutein.* It also supplies B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and folic acid.
Eggplant is high in fiber, potassium, manganese, and vitamin B1.
Leeks are a good source of fiber, iron, and vitamins A and C, and they contain the cancer-fighting phytochemical diallyl sulfide.
Okra provides vitamin C and the B vitamins, magnesium, lutein, and potassium.
Peas pack plenty of protein, B vitamins, vitamins C and A, manganese, iron, potassium, and lutein.
Peppers have lots of beta-carotene; vitamins B6, C, and A; and potassium.
Potatoes, with skins, are a good source of protein, iron, vitamin C, and potassium.
Shallots are a good source of potassium, vitamin B6, manganese, and folic acid.
Summer squash is high in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and magnesium. Both dark green and yellow squashes are excellent sources of lutein.
Sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6, and C, iron, fiber, and potassium. Plus, just 1 cup of sweet potato contains four times the recommended daily allowance of beta-carotene!
We must respect our veggies.

Well I am really surprised and impressed how good leeks are for their nutritional content. They are not just fibre and onion flavoured liquid. I did not expect that.

www.whfoods.com/index.php
(Nutrients in leeks cooked)
I am guessing the %tages refer to recommended daily intake. Leeks, cooked
1.00 cup
(104.00 grams)
Calories: 32
GI: medium

NutrientDRI/DV
vitamin K29%
manganese13%
copper7%
vitamin B67%
folate6%
vitamin C6%
iron6%
vitamin A5%
fiber4%
magnesium4%
calcium3%
vitamin E3%
omega-3 fats3%

Buy a Nutribullit blender.
You can easily get all your fruit and or veg in one hit.

And with some fruit and veg it will blend the skins, also.

I probably wouldn't get my five and certainly not ten a day quota without it.
It's brilliant. Just replace one meal a day for one of fruit and veg.
Easy, peasy.

I'd like to know just who exactly funded the "research" - a party with an enormous vested interest, that's for sure.

The Big Four supermarkets? Any commercial operation that grows and supplies organic fruit & veg? The National Allotments Association?

For goodness sake - 10 portions a day and you would never be able to leave the bathroom......

I agree with all those who say eating a balanced diet is the best way to stay healthy. Where possible avoid eating out of packets (processed food). It works for me.

It's mad! From that list:

Green vegetables

Two broccoli spears or four heaped tablespoons of cooked kale, spinach, spring greens or green beans count as one portion.

So you can either struggle through four heaped tablespoons of kale or green beans (which seems an awfully large amount) OR just nibble two broccoi spears!

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Pages/Portionsizes.aspx

"Three heaped tablespoons of cooked vegetables, such as carrots, peas or sweetcorn, or eight cauliflower florets count as one portion."

I just copied this from the NHS website. Ten portions? I suffer from a touch of wind at the best of times. I'd be matching a cow on the global warming hazard meter!

I am Type 2 Diabetic so have to be careful with fruit (natural sugars), I always have fruit (frozen at this time of year) in my porridge & glass of fruit juice (not from concentrate), portion of fruit is handful of grapes, 1 apple, 1 orange, 2 plums etc.
I love veg (potatoes don't count), a portion of veg is 1 tablespoonfull, I usually have 3 portions with my Dinner. Lunch is often home made soup containing veg. I have days when I don't hit my target but I do my best, I also eat Seasonal & buy Local

I know it may be more convenient to shop at the supermarket but I've found it much cheaper to buy my veg and fruit at my local greengrocer. And as some have already posted swopping biscuits, cakes, crisps and sweets for fruit and veg helps balance up the budget. They used to be treats not the daily items them seem to have become

I have just defrosted one big pot of the leek and potato soup I made when I discovered my leek mountain last Friday. I don't know how many vitamins and minerals that will give me, but it will go down nicely while I sit out the gale that is blowing right now.

I am with you River and will make a point of swapping from red to white every now and again just for the variety!

On a serious note, I would find it very difficult to eat 10 portions of fruit/veg every day. We only eat one "traditional" dinner a week (with various vegetables) and the rest of the time we have pasta,curry,chilli etc. If I am being honest some days I only have 2-3 portions and that would be tomatoes, mushrooms or onions. I do eat a banana or an apple most days too.

Home-made soups....easy and yummy!

It's not compulsory! Just a suggestion, and of course an excuse for everyone to get wound up!

I had at least 10 blueberries om my porridge this morning

Our fruit is much higher in sugar than wild fruit. Frozen veg is cheap and just as nutritious as fresh. I steam mine for taste. But 10 different portions a day is daft!

We get to 10 on several days a week. I would say 75% of my total shopping bill is spent on fruit and veg but we are not vegetarian.

A couple more glasses of wine should do it .... all those grapes

I listened to a radio discussion on this today and it's not as dramatic as the headlines suggest.
Eating more varieties is good for the heart but apparently won't make a big difference in warding off cancer. He did say we should eat more green leafy veg as they are the most beneficial. Variety is important, different coloured fruits and veg have different benefits.
A portion is about 60 grams or 3oz in old money.

Fruit and veg are cheap compared to meat and so much better for you than processed foods or vitamin supplements, although 10 different sorts each day would probably have you eating the same ones every day so it would be a challenge to create some variety!

These missives from on high are infuriating, they just give people more to stress about. One size all doesn't fit everybody anyway, different people thrive on different diets.
I was vegetarian for many years, I now eat a little oily fish and very occasionally meat. I think veg and fruit are incredibly cheap these days as long as you don't buy exotic, flown in fruits or out of season items. Of course they're going to cost more! These days you can buy a bag of organic carrots in Sainsbury for £1 and all the supermarkets, even Waitrose, do essential ranges that cost next to nothing.
People seem to have huge expectations these days but are unwilling to learn how to cook and to use spices and condiments for variety.
Maybe we were good role models but we never had trouble getting our children to eat vegetables. If there was something they didn't like, or refused because it was new we always said have a tiny portion on your plate, taste it and of course don't eat it if you really don't like it. Never battle over food was one of my rules. Now all three daughters are good cooks (much to the amazement of many of their university friends ) and love all veg including broccoli, cabbage and sprouts!

Last thought, what is wrong with apples and pears? There are many varieties and apple cooked with cinnamon is delicious. Who in their right mind expects strawberries to be available and cheap in the middle of winter?

I agree with NanaandGrampy. They will be telling us soon that it isn't good for us after all, all that acid you see. Look at butter v margarine for example. Just another fad if you ask me.

I would not take any notice. Eat everything in moderation I say. Works for me. I love fruit but I would not dream of eating 10 different sorts a day.

Never mind the cost of the veg, what would this cost in toilet rolls? 10 a day? I am a vegetarian and even I would be in the cludgee all day.................