The USDA guidelines recommend somewhere between five to 13 servings a day based on factors such as your sex, age, activity level, and overall health. So, for someone following a 2,000 calories per day diet, that would include 2 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables.
Variety and color are key to a healthy diet. On most days, try to get at least one serving from each of the following categories: dark green leafy vegetables; yellow or orange fruits and vegetables; red fruits and vegetables; legumes (beans) and peas; and citrus fruits.
Depending on their age and sex federal guidelines recommend that adults eat at least 1½ to 2 cups per day of fruit and 2 to 3 cups per day of vegetables as part of a healthy eating pattern.
Everyone should have at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. An adult portion of fruit or vegetables is 80g. The guide below will give you an indication of typical portion sizes for adults. Children should also eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day.
The avocado, chickpeas or tomato in them will count towards your 5-a-day. A typical serving weighs around 50g (a portion of vegetables is 80g) and that includes other ingredients, so it isn't a whole portion, but every little helps. Boost your intake further by using vegetable sticks to dip.
While a healthy vegetarian diet that includes a variety of different foods can provide all of the nutrients you need, a diet consisting of only vegetables doesn't. Vegetables don't contain sufficient amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B-12 and vitamin D.
Generally, it is recommended to eat 2 bananas a day. The amount of bananas you consume through the day will depend on your tolerance to vitamins and minerals, as some people are simply more capable of consuming vitamins and minerals without any complication.
Although sliced cucumber, tomato or lettuce in a sandwich can contribute towards your 5-a-day, it's unlikely that there will be 80g of vegetables in your salad, which is how much you need for it to count as one portion of vegetables.
"Onions form the base of many dishes, so you may forget that they can actually count towards your 5-a-day," points out dietitian Ro. So onions do count as a vegetable, and not just a flavour enhancer. Who knew! Plus, they're low in calories and a source of fibre.
