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Doing so provides your family with plenty of vitamins and minerals, as fruit and veg are naturally high in folic acid, vitamin C and potassium. They’re also a good source of fibre and antioxidants.
These are all important for your family’s health and children who eat higher amounts of fruit and vegetables tend to be more physically active. The long term risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers are also reduced by eating 5 a day.
Yet, despite the health benefits, many of us struggle to fit 5-a-day into our hectic lifestyles. It can be even harder to convince kids to trade sugary snacks, fizzy drinks and fatty foods for healthier alternatives. No wonder research from the Department of Health shows that Irish children currently consume far below the recommended daily levels of fruit and veg.
But the good news is that, taken as part of a balanced diet, a glass of Sqeez Pure Orange juice counts as one of the 5 daily portions of fruit and veg. Not alone is it crammed full of goodness, but the delicious taste means you are unlikely to encounter resistance from your kids. Sqeez really is a quick and smart way to get your kids to eat more healthily.
Here are a few questions some interested people (obviously with far too much time on their hands) sent in....
Click on a question to make the answer appear or disappear:
How can I get my kids to eat 5 a day?
Meal times can become battlegrounds with kids resolutely refusing to eat fruit and vegetables. The key is to be creative – just because kids reject food in one format doesn’t mean that they will automatically reject it in other forms.
Remember, that a 5-a-day portion does not necessarily need to be fresh. Frozen, chilled, canned, 100% juice, Fruit Smoothies and dried fruit and vegetables all count. Involve your kids in the preparation of meals using these ingredients to make soups, stews, casseroles etc. We have provided some delicious and fun recipes which your kids can help to prepare.
Give them dried fruit as snacks and remember a glass of delicious, nutritious Sqeez Orange juice counts as one of your 5 a day.
Remember, that a 5-a-day portion does not necessarily need to be fresh. Frozen, chilled, canned, 100% juice, Fruit Smoothies and dried fruit and vegetables all count. Involve your kids in the preparation of meals using these ingredients to make soups, stews, casseroles etc. We have provided some delicious and fun recipes which your kids can help to prepare.
Give them dried fruit as snacks and remember a glass of delicious, nutritious Sqeez Orange juice counts as one of your 5 a day.
Does Sqeez Orange Juice count towards the recommended 5 a day?
Yes. Taken as part of a balanced diet, a glass of Sqeez Pure Orange juice counts as one of the 5 daily portions of fruit and veg.
Do the 5 portion a day have to be fresh fruit and vegetables?
No. Fresh, frozen, chilled, canned, 100% juice, Fruit Smoothies and dried fruit and vegetables all count. Aim for at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day.
How much is one portion of fruit?
One portion of fruit is, for example, 1 medium apple, or 1 medium banana, or a glass of 100% fruit juice.
How much is one portion of vegetables?
One portion of vegetables is, for example, 3 heaped tablespoonfuls of cooked carrots or peas, beans or sweet-corn, or 1 cereal bowl of mixed salad. Potatoes don’t count towards the 5 A DAY target because they are a ’starchy’ food.
Why do fruit juices and pulses count only once, even if you have several portions of them?
Juice (fruit or vegetable) only counts as 1 portion a day, regardless of how much is consumed, because it has less fibre than whole fruit. Pulses contain fibre, but they don’t give the same mixture of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients as vegetables. So in order to get a healthy balance, it is important to ensure that you get a variety of fruit and vegetables.
Want more dietary advice? Check out the VHI for some excellent tips and guidance.
Want more dietary advice? Check out the VHI for some excellent tips and guidance.
