'1 of your 5 a day'... Or is it?

Or is it?

After watching Channel 4's Dispatches program 'Myths about your 5 a Day', I've felt the need to blog not only about the Food Industry's power to brainwash the public's idea of what constitutes 'Healthy Eating', but also the publics ignorance of what constitutes healthy eating.

I do not and never have claimed to be some kind of health guru, but I'd like to think I have a fair idea of what constitutes a healthy, balanced diet. But the idea of '5 a day' definitely scares any Student studying at University. Hopefully this blog post will help those who did not manage to watch the program tonight, who may still be in the dark with exactly what constitutes 1 of your 5 a day.

The Government have said that they 'are powerless to prevent firms claiming products are healthy, even when packed with sugar, salt and fat' (taken from this article.) In my opinion, the Government are scared to challenge the powerful Food Industry, and, with too many people concerned about covering their own reputations, no one has intervened with the labels that are being placed on our food, onto our supermarket shelves and, ultimately, into our bodies.

Food companies are claiming there are 1 of our 5 a day in ready meals such as Sausage and Chips and All Day Breakfasts. They are allowed to do this because each meal contains 80g of fruit and/or veg. However, the consumer (us) fail to recognise what isn't being advertised on the front: these ready meals contain our whole recommended daily allowance of salt. All gone on one meal. Shocking? Yes. Clever marketing and advertising? Definitely. Also, products labelled as 'lunchbox' snacks such a yoghurt covered dried fruit (claiming to be 1 of your 5 a day) have been proven to be made up of 50% sugar. Experts have concluded that any fruit that has been altered or had things added to it takes away any nutrition from the original thing. And students are certainly one of the vulnerable groups of people which succumb to the ready-prepared, ready-to-eat ready-meals out of ignorance and, unfortunately, sheer laziness. 

Discussions on twitter have come up with suggestions of teaching children in schools, getting into their heads from a young age so that, come their University days where they will be cooking for themselves, they will know what to do. And, ultimately, if people stop making these 'impulse buys' rushing through supermarkets, grabbing meals that look healthy, companies will stop producing the products. 

Here's my tip: Don't eat anything out of a packet. Eat Fresh. There are too many false presumptions amongst students about Fresh Food being expensive - it really isn't! Take some ownership on what you put into your mouths and enjoy trying out new recipes - it's your health, and you are the only person standing in your way.