What counts as fruit and veg?

[shirlthegirl43]

Okay, shout at me, shoot me down or whatever, but...

For some reason when I cook I feel there should be lots of 'colours' to qualify for the veg portion of the meal. But, I fancy strong flavours tonight coz I am full of cold and can't taste. So, I have bunged in a frypan a load of frozen chopped garlic, a chopped onion, some cold boiled spuds chopped up and some rashers of bacon - snipped! Does the onion and garlic actually count as veg or should I chuck in some frozen peas or the last bit of asparagus? (don't really want to waste the asparagus as I won't appreciate the flavour with my stuffiness)

[jacob marley]

The only thing that do's not count as fruit and veg is the bacon was it organic because you will be asked....jacob

[lizzylemon]

both onions and garlic have good healing properties so must count as veg (right?) but perhaps the peas too for a bit of iron?....

[shirlthegirl43]

The only thing that do's not count as fruit and veg is the bacon was it organic because you will be asked....jacob

Nope, it was cheap. If it wasn't then I wouldn't be able to eat! Sometimes the budget dictates the ethic

[Alan Farmer]

YOur original choice of ingredients is what was called "strong food" in Southern Spain mountain country. Read the superb and humourous book by Chris Stewart, called "Driving over Lemons". First of 3 novels about his life on a remote hillside farm. P.S. I envy you Pembrokeshire, you are lucky to live there. Alan

[shirlthegirl43]

YOur original choice of ingredients is what was called "strong food" in Southern Spain mountain country. Read the superb and humourous book by Chris Stewart, called "Driving over Lemons". First of 3 novels about his life on a remote hillside farm. P.S. I envy you Pembrokeshire, you are lucky to live there. Alan

I will look it out at the library, thanks for the tip. I love Pembrokeshire too - have lived here for 37 years now (but still don't count as local). It is a truly gorgeous part of the world.

[NOG]

An Onion would be a portion of Veg...then the same size of any other veg is a portion. So a hand full (10) grapes is a portion.

When we make shepards pie we bung anything we can find in then it counts as 2-3 portions.

[StephenH]

I must say, I've never regarded onion, garlic or spuds as counting, and I'm not sure about other root vegetables either, but I don't know why.

[NOG]

Its 5 portions of Fruit and Veg in the UK and 9 in France....So I take 5 as a minimum and I am only allowed 3 Fruit so have to eat loads of veg.

[indigox]

I don't think potatoes count, but onions and garlic do apparently.
You'd need to eat quite a lot of garlic to make up one portion though.

[shirlthegirl43]

I don't think potatoes count, but onions and garlic do apparently.
You'd need to eat quite a lot of garlic to make up one portion though.

I did! I used nearly a bulb of garlic - still couldn't taste it though

I have always counted onions as a veg and really just wondered if other people did too. I remember my mum telling me that a braised onion was as good for you as steak but don't remember the reason.

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, onion is a veg, so is tomato ketchup (seriously!)

spuds are not, though... doesn't matter how many you eat (they are carbs, like rice & pasta)

[Flummery]

I would count onions as a veg. Not spuds though. they're a carb.

I've read Driving over Lemons - brilliant!

[NOG]

What about parsnips? They are mostly sugar.

[blackkitty]

Onions and garlic count. The original research recommended 9 portions a day including spuds, but the powers that be realised that nine would be very scary for some people and put them off trying at all so opted for five but left spuds off the list. In some places spuds count but only if cooked without extra fat.