“Including colourful fruit and vegetables at Christmas time is a must for keeping the whole family healthy and happy,” General Manager Paula Dudley says.
“Nothing says Christmas more than beautiful seasonal fresh produce like strawberries, cherries, asparagus, tomatoes et cetera. By providing Kiwis with fresh ideas they are encouraged to try something new.”
As New Zealand heads into the summer
months, Ms Dudley says there is lots of great local produce available to make Christmas time colourful and healthy.“Cherries and berries look great this year and apricots look like they will be plentiful too.”
She says the 5+ A Day social media community respond really well to their suggestions and ideas for incorporating fresh fruit and vegetables into Christmas celebrations.
“The photos work well as ‘How to’ rather than complicated recipes,” she says, adding that it can be easy to add them to other Christmas snacks or meals.
“Instead of snacking on high fat high salt and sugar processed food, make a vegetable platter for nibbles with a humus and yogurt dip,” she says.
“Provide fresh fruit platter for dessert sprinkled with silver sprinkles to make it look festive.”
Among 5+ A Day’s most popular Christmas-themed posts are a cherry wreath, strawberry sponge layer cake, cherry tomato, mozzarella and basil caprese salad and a wreath salad featuring baby spinach, red capsicum, avocado and pomegranate.
“It is all in the presentation, make your platters look amazing and people will love them,” Ms Dudley says.
Some of the other fruit and vegetables in season for Kiwis at Christmas time include apples, bananas, artichokes, beetroots, cucumber, melons, sweet corn and potatoes.
For more information
Paula Dudley
The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust
Tel: +61 9 480 5057
Email: paula@5aday.co.nz
www.5aday.co.nz