Salisbury Foodbank improving fresh fruit and veg consumption for clients
They're responding as a report finds only 24% of Brits have their five a day
It would appear more of us are eating tinned. dried and processed food - and that's being linked to inflation and the cost of living.
In a recent survey of 5,000 people in the UK by Juice Plus+, only a quarter of Brits (24%) admitted they eat their five a day.
Maria Stevenson from Salisbury Foodbank, tells us they work with a local grocers to make sure people get their fresh fruit and veg through their emergency food parcels:
"We were quite conscious that our offering lacked a fresh element, so we work with a local greengrocer and have a separate fund to give people fresh food if they request it. It's quite an expensive project that we run though.
"The feedback that we're getting from that project's beneficiaries is that it's changing the way they're eating, they're opting more for fresh. You can get fresh food cheaply, if you go at the right time to the market. The price shouldn't be a barrier."
The study's also revealed many of us are confused when it comes to how much we should be including in our diets and what constitutes a ‘portion’ of fruit and vegetables.
The World Health Organisation says more than 400 grams of fruits and vegetables per day are needed to improve overall health, but in the UK, only 18% correctly identified that 80g is a standard adult portion.
Over half (53%) of UK households told the survey they were experiencing 'food insecurity', with 60% of Brits eating less fresh produce in favour of canned, tinned or dried varieties, due to inflation or the cost-of-living crisis.
Maria Stevenson from Salisbury Foodbank, says processed food is highly available and usually at a lower price, making it an easier choice if you've a small budget:
"You can buy a tin of peaches in many supermarkets for 30 to 35p - I'm not sure how many peaches you'd get for that price fresh, you're probably looking upwards of £2 for four, so there is that element as well."