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Eat 30 plants a week?

(111 Posts)
RosiesMaw2 Fri 10-Jan-25 16:07:18

New slogan from Waitrose apparently .
I came back from the supermarket this morning to find my two orchids, an Aloe Vera and my Swiss Cheese Plant hiding under the bed. hmm

Baggs Sat 11-Jan-25 12:54:26

M0nica

nanna8

What are we, rabbits ? 🐇

You can eat a predominantly carnovore diet and still meet the 30 a week diktat.

The whole thing is a daft way of relaunching what has been said for donkey's years. The best diet is a well balanced diet that includes plenty of variety.

Yes, but different people/guts need different amounts of plant stuff and the particulars of said plant stuff matter too.

As you say, M0n, balance is key.

merlotgran Sat 11-Jan-25 12:55:15

Lovetopaint037

Just what we need Rosie! A good laugh to warm us up. Personally I have tried some of these Plant Products and don’t ever go near that section if I can help it. Plenty of fresh veg , and natural ingredients made by yourself is my recommendation.

Get your apron on, Maw 👩‍🍳😂

Baggs Sat 11-Jan-25 12:55:51

You can always ridicule stuff anyhow, like counting chocolate and wine – not to mention beef and lamb – as plant based.

All food is plant based.

Norah Sat 11-Jan-25 17:50:19

MissInterpreted

Funny how what started out as a lighthearted thread has quickly turned serious. Some people have had a sense of humour bypass...

Indeed.

Thirty plants a week is worth a chuckle.

Granmarderby10 Sat 11-Jan-25 19:24:59

Yes but I just coudn’t manage that last. African Violet. Sorry🤢

PamelaJ1 Sat 11-Jan-25 22:02:45

Granmarderby10

Yes but I just coudn’t manage that last. African Violet. Sorry🤢

I seem to remember that there used to be chocolates with a violet coloured creme filling and a crystallised violet on top.😂

MissInterpreted Sat 11-Jan-25 22:04:25

Do Parma Violets count? wink
Asking for a friend - never could stand the things myself!

Allira Sat 11-Jan-25 22:42:08

RosiesMaw2

New slogan from Waitrose apparently .
I came back from the supermarket this morning to find my two orchids, an Aloe Vera and my Swiss Cheese Plant hiding under the bed. hmm

😁

The Christmas tree was trying to get out through the conservatory door. It needn't worry, it's too spiky for my liking!

Allira Sat 11-Jan-25 22:43:29

Kate1949

I notice M&S have a range of Brain Food. confused

Yes!
I intend to try it. Well, I need something.

Allira Sat 11-Jan-25 22:45:54

merlotgran

Whiff

RosiesMaw that made me laugh. Had heart attack on Monday moved to other other hospital for stent or stents fitted probably tomorrow.

Sorry to hear that, Whiff

Hope your treatment is successful and you are soon recovered.

Sending best wishes, Whiff
Along with 🍒🥬🥒🥦🥕🍉🍓 and friends

Allira Sat 11-Jan-25 22:53:47

BlueBelle

*Products from plants all count eg rice, pasta, certain oils, seeds, herbs, spices*

Come on Karmalady rice and pasta aren’t vegetables any more than sugar is let’s get real a pinch of paprika or cumin can’t be classed as your 30 a week what next chips they come from potatoes ahh well we ll have chips every day soon get our 30 in

Plants, not just vegetables.

Bread should count as it's made from wheat which is a plant. As is pasta. Rice is, of course, a plant.

Sugar comes from a plant. Fruit cake should be exceptionally good.

teabagwoman Sun 12-Jan-25 08:53:18

Whiff, I hope you make a speedy recovery.

I find that aiming for 30 plants a week does ensure that my meals are varied and I find it quite easy to do.

Granmarderby10 Sun 12-Jan-25 13:01:51

Being able to buy just the amount you want loose from a greengrocers would be the only way to achieve this.

Sadly none near me. I would love to shop for veg 2 or 3 times a week instead of trying to ram a weeks worth into the fridge. Too warm in my flat to leave any out -except for tomatoes. 🍅

BlueBelle Sun 12-Jan-25 13:31:27

Allira

BlueBelle

Products from plants all count eg rice, pasta, certain oils, seeds, herbs, spices

Come on Karmalady rice and pasta aren’t vegetables any more than sugar is let’s get real a pinch of paprika or cumin can’t be classed as your 30 a week what next chips they come from potatoes ahh well we ll have chips every day soon get our 30 in

Plants, not just vegetables.

Bread should count as it's made from wheat which is a plant. As is pasta. Rice is, of course, a plant.

Sugar comes from a plant. Fruit cake should be exceptionally good.

Well that’s simple then I probably eat 30 in a day 🤣🤣🤣

BlueBelle Sun 12-Jan-25 13:33:59

Too warm in my flat to leave any out -except for tomatoes
You can borrow my house grandmaderby I had ice on the inside of my windows this morning 🤣

Granmarderby10 Sun 12-Jan-25 14:40:29

It is one of the benefits of being in the upstairs flat. Well insulated and double glazing. Needs an electric fan (or two) in summer though.

Allira Sun 12-Jan-25 16:14:34

BlueBelle

Allira

BlueBelle

Products from plants all count eg rice, pasta, certain oils, seeds, herbs, spices

Come on Karmalady rice and pasta aren’t vegetables any more than sugar is let’s get real a pinch of paprika or cumin can’t be classed as your 30 a week what next chips they come from potatoes ahh well we ll have chips every day soon get our 30 in

Plants, not just vegetables.

Bread should count as it's made from wheat which is a plant. As is pasta. Rice is, of course, a plant.

Sugar comes from a plant. Fruit cake should be exceptionally good.

Well that’s simple then I probably eat 30 in a day 🤣🤣🤣

I've had home-made leek and potato soup for lunch two days running so does that count as two plants or four plants?

If I ate a teaspoon of Italian herbs how does that count as seven plants if seven helpings of broccoli (one a day for a week) only counts as one plant?

confused

NonGrannyMoll Sun 12-Jan-25 16:20:13

30 plants doesn't just mean 30 portions of fruit & veg. It includes herbs, spices, juice, rice, cereals, spuds, nuts, seeds, pulses, all vegetables, all fruits and Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. It's not hard to hit 30 a week - your houseplants can rest in peace and safety!

NonGrannyMoll Sun 12-Jan-25 16:23:57

"If I ate a teaspoon of Italian herbs how does that count as seven plants if seven helpings of broccoli (one a day for a week) only counts as one plant?"

The point isn't how much, it's how many - diversity is the key to getting a varied and nutritious diet, otherwise people who only eat chips could say that 30 portions of spuds a week is all they need to stay healthy!

FlitterMouse Sun 12-Jan-25 16:28:38

This is to do with the microbiome. Every plant has a different microbiome hence why we are being urged to eat 30 different plants to get as many different kinds of good bacteria into the mouth and gut as possible. Chris Van Tulleken talked about the microbiome in his Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Allira Sun 12-Jan-25 17:04:37

NonGrannyMoll

"If I ate a teaspoon of Italian herbs how does that count as seven plants if seven helpings of broccoli (one a day for a week) only counts as one plant?"

The point isn't how much, it's how many - diversity is the key to getting a varied and nutritious diet, otherwise people who only eat chips could say that 30 portions of spuds a week is all they need to stay healthy!

There have been some interesting studies carried out about this but I don't believe it is something to stress about.

A person who eats 30 portions of chips in a week I not going to be interested in this advice or in researching about it.

Diversity analyses of the gut microbiome reveal that people with larger social networks tend to have a more diverse microbiome, suggesting that social interactions may shape the microbial community of the human gut. In contrast, anxiety and stress are linked to reduced diversity and an altered microbiome composition.
ScienceDirect

So eat a varied diet and don't get unduly stressed about it.

M0nica Sun 12-Jan-25 18:28:20

I remember a previous thread on this subject and how easily a number of us found it to eat thirty plants in well under a week, without varying from our usual mixed healthy diet.

I thk I have managed around 12 so far today, without any intention of trying to reach this goal. Most of them racked up by the home made Thai style salmon curry we had for lunch.

FlitterMouse Sun 12-Jan-25 19:06:19

Of course, social networks influence the microbiome. This was discussed in the lectures - and why Chris van Tulleken's microbiome has more in common with his pet cat than his twin brother Xander. Put bluntly, the cat licks its bum and then laps from the tap that the family draw their drinking water from.

Stress hormones and inflammation affect the microbiome. Stress can also lead to the over-consumption of highly palatable foods that are not good for the gut e.g highly processed sugary foods and alcohol.

Thirty different plant foods a week it easy even without counting herbs and spices.

I've eaten twelve today.

Fruit salad for breakfast: chopped apple, banana, grapes, pear, clementine (5)

Lunch: Brussels sprouts, leek, potato, peas (4)

Supper: Soup: carrot, onion, tomato (3)

MissInterpreted Sun 12-Jan-25 19:14:39

It's not always as easy for everyone though, especially if you have certain medical conditions. I'd be in absolute agony if I ate that much fruit and veg in one day. I find that the easiest way for me keep my gut microbiome in order is by taking Symprove.

M0nica Sun 12-Jan-25 20:30:19

MissInterpreted

It's not always as easy for everyone though, especially if you have certain medical conditions. I'd be in absolute agony if I ate that much fruit and veg in one day. I find that the easiest way for me keep my gut microbiome in order is by taking Symprove.

Well, yes of course, like all these things, digestive problems will cause problems, as will allergies and food intolerances, but 30 a week is not about eating vast quantities of fruit and veg, it is about eating plants. These include rice, wheat, potatoes and spices and herbs, where you are using minute quantities of each plant. Even your portions of fruit and veg can be small in quantity, half a small orange, just a couple of green beans.

It is the range of plants you eat not the quantity that matters.