We all know and have been told many times that we should be eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. But for most of us if we think about it, it does seem like quite a chore. So to get us into the routine of eating more fruit and veg here's a quick recap of why we need to eat so many portions and what exactly is in it for us...

• Fruit and veg are low in fat but have a high water content, so they make you feel full without filling out your waistline. They also provide you with a little of the water amounts we need each day.
• They contain nutrients such as vitamin C (found in oranges, broccoli, and spinach), which keeps your gums, skin and hair healthy. Folate (found in orange juice and particularly green leafy vegetables), carotenoids (found in yellow and orange fruit and veg) and flavonoids (rich in berries, tomatoes, broccoli, squash, onions, radishes and kale). These act as antioxidants, which protect us from heart disease and some forms of cancer.
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• They contain compounds (especially onion, garlic, leeks, cabbage, broccoli, and brussel sprouts) which may have an antibacterial effect and offer protection against stomach cancer.
• They are excellent sources of soluble fibre, which can help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Phew! So could there possibly be any other reason why we should eat fruit?

• Yeah! As well as them being absolutely yummy in flavour they contain just about every letter in the alphabet in vitamins! There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be eating fruit and veg guys!

Don't worry guys and gals, because if this is the case then we have plenty of top tips for how to sneak your five portions of fruit and veg into your daily diet.

1. Keep A Well-Stocked Kitchen

It sounds obvious, but having the right foods on hand makes you more likely to eat them. So ask your parents if they could buy a few different fruits you could nibble on. Or even better help your parents do the shopping. When you're there you could suggest buying a few healthier products.

2. Savour As A Snack

Keep carrots in a handy spot in the fridge. Place a bowl of fruit on your kitchen table. Take fruit, veg or even dried fruit, like raisins, in your bag to school with you. Eat them at break instead of your usual packet of crisps. Fruit and veggies are the perfect snack because they're portable as well as delicious.

1. Get Juiced

Turning fruit and veg into juice is the best way to get your five portions down your neck in no time. Just blend whatever fruits you find are the nicest and add ice for a cool and refreshing taste. Or even better add blended fruit into yoghurt and loads of crushed ice for a fantastic smoothie.

3. Add Them To Your Favourites

Add veggies to your favourite foods. Finely chop them or puree them so you won't even be able to taste them too much. Best recipe to get your greens in is to add carrots, peppers, courgettes, mushrooms etc. etc. to a bolognese sauce. Once its cooked and you get your spaghetti on the plate you won't even remember that there are veggies on your plate.

4. Spice Up Your Sandwich

Any time you have a sandwich add a bit of salad to it. It makes the sandwich even tastier and it'll fill you up more. You could even add salad to a burger if you're having a BBQ in the summer.

5. Slip Them Into Your Desserts

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