Healthy eating includes eating at least five portions, and ideally 7-9 portions, of a variety of fruit or vegetables each day. Fruit and vegetables include fresh, frozen, tinned, or dried varieties, and fruit juice. On average, people who eat lots of fruit and vegetables tend to be healthier and live longer.

They are rich in vitamins and minerals which keep the body healthy. They also contain chemicals called antioxidants, such as carotene, which are thought to protect against damaging chemicals that get into the body. However, the exact way in which they prevent disease is not fully understood.