Fruit and Veg

5 A DAY

This week I decided as my diet did not improve much last week, other than reducing the portions, this week I would concentrate on eating more fruit and veg.

Monday morning we took a trip to a local market which is about 20 minutes off the island I live on. It is always nice to 'escape' from the island. Even though it just a bridge across to the mainland. we don't really do it very often

The market is not in a tourist area and not many people speak English so I like to use my market trips to brush up on my language skills too.

We are lucky that the food here is very seasonal so you can only buy what is is currently growing (apart from bananas which are always available and imported!) I came away with bags of produce for just a few Euros and reminded myself I must do this more regularly as it is an enjoyable experience and saves money - what's not to love?

I came away with the following

Peppers, new potatoes (I like sweet potatoes but there were none to be had) carrots, celery, aubergine, courgettes, apples and bananas.

The apples and bananas I am using as snacks as well as fresh mandarins from my tree in the garden

The carrots and celery I am using as raw snacks if I feel like I need to grab for something.

The carrots I have also used this week as a cooked side dish.

Here is my recipe for Baked Local Vegetables that can make a meal complete without the need for potatoes as they are so delicious.

Chop the following into an oven dish

Tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, aubergine, courgette and then Feta cheese chopped and sprinkled over the top - this is salty so no more seasoning is required.

Then a spray or drizzle of you preferred oil across the vegetables - mine is olive oil. Bake in the oven until the veg is cooked through (about 30 mins at 180 degrees C) - Perfect. You can change the vegetables for what ever is in season, but it is the feta that makes it so delicious.

All of this is working towards making sure I eat my 5 a day, essentially the more of this I eat, the less of the unhealthy stuff I will eat.