One In Twenty Parents Think Crisps Count As One Of Your Five-A-Day

Worrying research has found that one in 20 parents think that crisps count towards their children’s five-a-day.

The survey of 1000 British mums and dads conducted by Fruit Heroes also found that 25 per cent of parents think a jacket potato counts, while one in seven are happily dishing out mashed potatoes under the impression they are adding to their kids’ recommended daily amount of fruit and veg.

Confusingly, although the potato is a vegetable it does not count towards your five-a-day in any form as it is considered a starchy food. Yams, cassava and plantain also do not count for the same reason.

While it’s unfathomable to think that crisps are healthy, parents can be forgiven for believing that the staple spud might be good for you.

So, to clarify, what does count towards your five-a-day?

-    All fruit and veg EXCEPT starchy veg like potatoes, yams, cassava, plantain
-    Frozen fruit and veg
-    Tinned fruit and veg but ONLY the ones in natural juice or water
-    Dried fruits like raisins and sultanas
-    Juice but ONLY one 150ml glass of 100 per cent unsweetened fruit or vegetable juice

And what does a portion of fruit or veg look like? It’s not always easy to know how much you have to eat so instead of stuffing your face with hundreds of grapes, have a look at our simple guide.

One pear

Two plums

Seven cherry tomatoes

Five centimetres of cucumber - yes, we measured!

Three dates

A handful of dried banana chips

Do you get your five-a-day? Let us know in the comments below!

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