Fruit and vegetables are key to a healthier lifestyle. What's more they taste great and add variety to any meal.

Eating a variety of fruit and vegetables will give you plenty of vitamins and minerals. Fruit and vegetables are also a good source of fibre and other substance such as antioxidants. All these nutrients are important for your health.

Fruit and vegetables are generally low fat, low calorie foods. Eating fruit and vegetables instead of foods that are high in fat and added sugars may help you achieve or keep to a healthy weight.

5 Good reasons to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day

• They taste great and add different flavours, colours and textures to meals and snacks.
• they can help to maintain a healthy heart
• they're full of fibre
• they're low in fat - eating plenty can fill us up and help to maintain healthy weight.
• Fresh, frozen dried, canned or juiced fruit and vegetables all count towards our five a day - helping to make our diet tasty and affordable.

5 a day for children

• Get children started on the 5 a day habit early.
• Bite size pieces of fruit and vegetables are perfect for small hands.
• If cooked vegetables aren't popular with your children, try blending them into casseroles, soups and sauces, or see if they prefer them raw.
• The natural sweetness in sweetcorn, carrots and cherry tomatoes make these very popular with children.