As a nation we are more aware of the health challenges that we face, but are we doing enough about it?

Where diet is concerned, eating a variety of fruit & vegetables can help you stay healthy, as well as being a good source of fibre, vitamins & minerals and reducing the risk of serious diseases. But Government statistics show only one-in-four adults and one-in-five children under 15 eat the five portions of fruit & vegetables a day that are recommended. Studies point to a strong link between diet and concentration in children, so how can we encourage them to eat more healthily?

A portion of your '5 a day' weighs about 80 grams (roughly a handful). Remember frozen and dried fruit & vegetables count as well as fresh produce, and even the fruit & vegetables in pasta sauces and soups count towards your daily total. Due to the low fat/calorie content in fruit & vegetables, eating them as part of a balanced diet will help your children maintain a healthy weight.

Local residents will soon have a new source of inspiration for meal-times and in response to the desire for good fresh produce, Nature's Window, a new fruit & vegetable shop is opening at Windsor Drive Parade, Chelsfield. The shop will offer seasonal produce from Kent, as well as local pickles, chutneys, award-winning cheeses, orchard-reared pork, and fruit juices.

Wherever possible, food will be bought straight from field to shop, cutting out lengthy transportation processes and delivering fresher produce. And for those who prefer home delivery, fruit & veg boxes will be packed with essential items as well as some seasonal surprises.