What Gran got right about meat and three veg

Cooking and serving meat and three veg for dinner was very much the norm a generation or two ago. So should we go back to this type of meal pattern? Answer: partly. 

Our grandmothers were right to serve up three vegetables every night for dinner, however, now vegetables should be the showcase and not simply be the ‘side dish’. In 2021, there are so many exciting cuisines to enjoy, which put more delicious veg on your plate than the traditional boiled spuds, carrots and beans that were Gran’s specialty.

Having three serves of vegies – ideally three different types of vegies –  at dinner is a great start but did you know that we should eat five serves every day?

A survey done by Cancer Council NSW in 2019 found that only 12% of people ate the recommended five serves of vegetables every day. Over half of those that ate less than five serves each day thought that they were eating enough vegetables.

Why should we eat 5 & 2?

Eating five serves of vegies and two serves of fruit each day is a simple way to stay healthy.  Vegetables and fruits are high in fibre and are packed full of vitamins and minerals needed for good health.

It is estimated that about 1,300 cases of bowel cancer could be prevented if people increased their fibre intake by eating the recommended five serves of veg (including legumes and lentils) and two serves of fruit each day.   

5 and 2 too much to chew?

It might sound like a lot to have five serves of vegies and two serves of fruit each day, but if you spread it over the day, it’s easy to do!  Let us show you how.

	Breakfast: Museli fruit pot 1 serve of fruit
	Lunch: Vegie pasta soup 2.5 serves of vegies
	Snack: banana 1 serve of fruit
	Dinner: Beef and broccoli stir fry 2.5 serves of vegies

For more inspiration, the Healthy Lunch Box website has hundreds of delicious recipes that include lots of different vegies and fruit. Each recipe also shows how many serves of vegies and fruit they contain per portion.