Back to knowledge library5-A-Day
What is the 5-a-day tracker?
The 5-a-day tracker is used to represent the number of portions of fruit and vegetable that are consumed in the diet. This is found within the healthcare system and is based on the intake across the day. The metric is calculated by calculating the percentage of fruit and vegetable of all items entered in grams and dividing by 80.
What is impact of 5-a-day?
Fruit and vegetables are an important aspect of a healthy and balanced diet. The high micronutrient content of fruits and vegetables means there are significant health benefits to consuming fruit and vegetables. For example, one medium orange contains ~78% of the daily recommended target for vitamin C. The UK government recommends an intake of at least 5 fruit and vegetable portions per day. A variety of different fruits and vegetables per day and throughout the week/month is important to ensure a good range of nutrients in the diet.
What are the sources of 5-a-day?
Fruit: 1 medium banana, 30g dried fruit, 2 satsumas, 8 strawberries
Vegetables: 80g of cooked broccoli, 80g cucumber, 250ml vegetable juice (unsweetened)
Where to find the 5-a-day tracker:
For users of the Smart Nutrition+ app, the 5-a-day tracker may be found in the dashboard.
Further Resources:
References:
National Health Service (2022). What 5 A Day?. Available at:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/5-a-day/why-5-a-day/ [Accessed 16 September]
Written By:
Lucy Clarkson, SENR Nutritionist and Database Support, myfood24.