Sneaky ways to eat better

We’ve heard about the benefits of having ‘five a day’ when it comes to fruit and veg intake. Now some doctors are saying that we should be eating a whopping eight portions to stave off a whole range of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. But it isn’t always easy to incorporate that much fruit and vegetables into our diets. So why not ‘trick’ yourself into eating more, rather than just trying to cram lots of portions into one or two mealtimes.

Here’s how to do it the easy way.

• Blitz them. If you start the day with a smoothie made with a banana, a couple of handfuls of berries and some juice, you’ll have had three of your portions already. Likewise, making soups is a great way to eat more vegetables. Invest in a handheld blender if you don’t have one already, as these can make cooking much easier.
• Make batches of tomato sauce that include grated vegetables such as onions, courgettes, squash and carrots. You can blitz them smooth and then use them as the basis of a range of other dishes, from pasta sauces to casseroles to healthy pizza toppings.
• Use more fruit and vegetables in baking. Carrot or banana cake are loved by many people, but courgettes, for example, are excellent in cakes, making them moist and delicious.
• Snack on frozen fruit, such as strawberries, watermelon slices, bananas or grapes.