Potatoes and 5+ A Day

Potatoes are very much a part of the 5+ A Day.
For good health it is essential to eat 5+ A Day (five or more servings of fresh fruit and vegetables each day). Baked, boiled, microwaved or mashed potatoes are a great way to get one serving towards your 5+ A Day target. Remember, a serving is about a handful.

Common sense must prevail and we don't encourage consumers to 'count' products which have a high fat content e.g. crisps or fries. Anecdotal experience has shown us that most consumers understand this to be the case in exactly the same way as they would not count a slice of apricot cheesecake! 

Several countries specifically exclude potatoes from their 5+ A Day programmes due to their carbohydrate source. In these countries whilst not counted as a vegetable, potatoes are classified as a carbohydrate, along with rice and pasta, and consumption is still encouraged. The New Zealand Ministry of Health Guidelines includes potatoes in the vegetables recommendation of three serves per day.