5 a day for healthy eating

Eating 5 a day is a simple rule of thumb for keeping yourself fit and healthy by making sure you have a balanced diet.

The idea behind 5 a day is that you eat five daily portions that contain both fruit and vegetables. While some of us may regard fruit and veg as boring, with a little bit of imagination, you'll discover there's a huge amount of variety to be found in a 5 a day diet.

In fact variety really is the spice of life as making sure you get plenty of different types of fruit and vegetables is the best way to ensure you get the nutrients, fibres, vitamins and minerals that you need. This is not about starving yourself; in fact, you can eat as much fruit and veg as you want. It's a far more realistic and long-term way of controlling your weight.

There are also huge advantages for your health. For a start, eating plenty of fruit and veg makes you less likely to develop heart disease. They contain high quantities of the minerals and vitamins that are essential to keep your body running smoothly.

They also help to boost your immune system and reduce the risks of developing cancer. They provide plenty of the vital fibre and antioxidants that help keep you strong and energetic. As they're low in fat, added sugars and calories, they also won't cause you to pile on the pounds. Most people, particularly young people, in Britain don't have enough fruit and veg in their diets and this is a major threat to their future health. Just upping the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat can make a huge difference to your well being.