5 A DAY on a budget
Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables doesn't have to be expensive. There are lots of affordable ways to get your 5 A DAY.
Here's how to eat more fruit and vegetables while still saving money.
10 top tips to get 5 A DAY on a budget.
- Buy fruit and vegetables loose rather than pre-packaged. Loose fruit and veg can be as little as half the price.
- Look for supermarket deals on fruit and vegetables, such as buy one get one free offers.
- Fruit and vegetables are usually cheaper if they're in season. You can find out what is in season at the Seasons and celebrations page on the Food Standards Agency?s website, and at the Love British Food website's page on seasons.
- Fruit and vegetables are often cheaper at your local street or farmers' market. You can find your nearest one in this directory of farmers' markets.
- Replace your morning or afternoon snack with a piece of fruit. A banana or an apple costs around 20p at the supermarket, about half the price of most chocolate bars or packets of crisps. The savings add up and so do the health benefits.
- Don't throw away vegetables that are about to go out of date. Use them in stews, soups and casseroles, which you can freeze and eat another time.
- Stock up on canned fruit and vegetables. They count towards your 5 A DAY and won't go off, so you can buy them in bulk. Buy those canned without added salt or sugar. Supermarket own-brand varieties are usually the cheapest.
- Look for good deals on frozen and dried fruit and veg, such as frozen peas and dried pulses and beans. They are often cheaper than fresh varieties.
- Swap ready meals for homemade alternatives. Vegetables in dishes such as stews, bakes, casseroles and curries count towards your 5 A DAY, and cooking these dishes yourself is cheaper than buying them ready-made.
- Cook in bulk and freeze portions to eat another time. For more meal ideas, go to 5 A DAY recipes.
If you have an enquiry about 5 A DAY, please email: [email protected]
Tagged in Diet