- 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
