We all know the stress of trying to fit in the minimum 5-a-day fruit and veg when all you want is a comforting hot chocolate and a hob nob, but there are loads of ways for sneaking them into your day without feeling like you’re growing fluffy ears and a cotton tail.

Because fruit and veg is so central to helping to keep your cholesterol levels healthy, we have compiled a few suggestions to help you do what you need to and still enjoy the occasional treat.

Tip 1 – Breakfast

If you love a bowl of cereal or porridge on a morning, one of the easiest ways to up your intake of fruit is to add some to your breakfast. A sliced banana, a couple of handfuls of berries or chopped apple will not only help to keep the cholesterol at bay but make that cereal really pop!
If you are more of a toast person, fruit jam doesn’t count, but sliced banana is lovely on toast.
All types of juices and smoothies can be counted as one of your 5-a-day as well, but only once as the sugar content tends to be quite high.

Tip 2 – Lunch

There are loads of different things you can do to make lunch a bit healthier. From adding extra salad in sandwiches or wraps to chopping raw vegetables into sticks to dip in humous, every little bit extra counts towards what you need.
If that doesn’t float your boat, take a handful of blueberries and add them to your yoghurt. Not only does it taste delish but they are packed solid with nutrients and other good stuff that makes them a superfood. You cannot go wrong!

Tip 3 – Dinner/Tea

Whatever you are eating, throw some vegetables in there or alongside it. It doesn’t need to be heaps but even if you serve a salad on the side, it all helps.
If you are having soups, make them from scratch. There are a wealth of amazing recipes online that are so easy to make and nothing beats the taste of homemade soup!
If you are making casseroles or stews, reduce the meat content a little and bump them up with vegetables and pulses.
For those of you with a sweet tooth who love a pud, choose a fruit based dessert.
Fruit salad, baked fruit or fruit with custard or yoghurt. Just make sure you keep it low fat and sugar. The fruit will be sweet enough.

We all know what we should be doing but when there are scrummy things that aren’t good for you it can be difficult. Its all about introducing small changes to your diet.
What you might actually find is that if you are getting your sugar fix from somewhere else, the need for that hob nob disappears altogether!

In the spirit of trying to eat heart healthier, we have put just a couple of recipes below for you to try. Even just one or two small changes can make a big difference for you and the rest of the people you love.