5 A Day calculator

Count your fruit and veg portions the NHS way. The rules are built in: juice only counts once, beans only count once, and dried fruit portions are smaller.

Your details

Your portions today

5.0

That is your 5 A Day

Fresh, frozen or tinned fruit1
Veg2
Juice or smoothie (counts once)1.0
Beans and pulses (count once)1
Dried fruit (30 g each)0

Five is a minimum, not a maximum, and frozen and tinned (in water or juice) count just the same as fresh.

The working

The NHS counting rules

Food	One portion	Counts up to
Fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and veg	80 g	No limit
Dried fruit	30 g	No limit (eat with meals)
Juice or smoothie	150 ml	Once a day in total
Beans, lentils, chickpeas	80 g	Once a day

The example day of one fruit, two veg, a glass of juice and a portion of beans makes 5. A second glass of juice would not add another.

What is a portion?

Handy sizes

A banana, apple, pear or orange
Two plums, kiwis or satsumas
A handful of grapes or berries
Three heaped tablespoons of peas, sweetcorn or carrots
A cereal bowl of salad

Potatoes do not count, because they are a starchy food, but sweet potatoes, parsnips and swedes do.

Beyond five

Five is a minimum

Five a day is a minimum, not a maximum. Large studies suggest benefits keep rising up to around seven to ten portions. Variety matters too: different colours bring different nutrients.

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

Fruit in processed foodFruit in yogurts, pies and sauces is often too little to count.
ChildrenA child's portion is roughly what fits in their hand.
Juice and teethJuice with meals is kinder to teeth.

Questions

Common questions

Does fruit juice count towards 5 A Day?

Yes, but only once a day, however much you drink. 150 ml is one portion.

Do potatoes count?

No. They count as a starchy food. Sweet potatoes, parsnips, swedes and turnips do count.

Does frozen and tinned fruit count?

Yes. Choose tinned in juice or water rather than syrup, and veg without added salt.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

If food feels hard

If eating, weight or food is on your mind a lot, you are not alone. Your GP can help, and Beat has a free helpline on 0808 801 0677 (England, weekdays 3pm to 8pm).