The NHS 5 A DAY advice counts more foods than many people expect. This page summarises what counts and what a portion is. It is general information, not medical advice.
What counts
Almost all fruit and vegetables count: fresh, frozen, tinned and dried, as well as those cooked into soups and stews. Tinned choices should be packed in juice or water, with no added sugar or salt.
Portion sizes
- 80g of fresh, frozen or tinned fruit or vegetables is one portion.
- 30g of dried fruit is one portion, best eaten at mealtimes rather than as a snack to protect teeth.
- Fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies count as one portion at most, up to 150ml a day, and are best drunk with meals.
Special cases
- Pulses such as lentils, chickpeas and kidney beans count only once a day, however much you eat.
- Potatoes do not count because they are a starchy food. Sweet potatoes, parsnips, swedes and turnips do count.
- Yams, cassava and plantain do not count.
