If you spot any giant bananas around the Island this Friday (May 13) you could win a basket of fruit courtesy of Marks & Spencer. It’s all to do with Fruity Friday which is an annual awareness day devised by the World Cancer Research Fund. Fruit contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, fibre and other phytochemicals – naturally occurring plant compounds that can be beneficial to your health by protecting cells in the body from damage that can lead to cancer. Danni Mottram, Healthier Outcomes Worker at The Children’s Centre, is leading a campaign to encourage all Island residents to eat more fruit. On the big day she will be taking a giant inflatable banana to various Island locations and anyone who spots them can enter the competition to win a basket of fruit provided by Marks & Spencer. If you spot the big banana all you have to do is text the name of the location to 418971 and you will be entered into a prize draw. More details about Fruity Friday can be found by going to The Children’s Centre’s Facebook page which can be accessed by logging on to www.thechildrenscentre.org.im To get in the mood for Fruity Friday Danni has given us two recipes for fruit smoothies. The recipes are ideal for all ages, but with summer holidays coming up they are also great for parents to make with and for their children. Fruit smoothies and fruit juice generally count as one portion of fruit and veg which is a good way to help make up your 5 a day! However, as the fruit has been blended, the fructose (fruit sugar) is broken down and becomes a simple sugar which can damage teeth. Therefore, it’s best to consume smoothies at mealtimes, not between meals. For snacks during the day try whole fruit, vegetables, bread/toast with butter or soft cheese (not jam or chocolate spread) or crackers, cheese, rice cakes, homemade popcorn or milk. If you are replacing high sugar foods such as sweets or chocolate with a smoothie then although this may still cause tooth decay - as sweets or chocolate would have - you will be gaining beneficial nutrients in the fruit. Below are a couple of examples of Danni’s simple smoothie recipes: Strawberry and banana smoothie Cut the stems off your strawberries and give them a rinse. Peel the banana/s and cut into smaller chunks. Place the strawberries, banana/s, a little milk and/or natural yoghurt and a few ice cubes into the blender. Add a little honey for extra flavour if required. Mix it altogether. Nice and simple. Orange, lemon and pineapple smoothie Chop up your pineapple into chunks (without the skin). Place the pineapple into the blender and add some pure orange juice. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into the blender and add some ice cubes. Mix it altogether. Nice and refreshing, Fruit Facts • A healthy diet should include five portions of fruit or veg every day. A portion is the size of one handful – this works for both adults and children. Visit http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Pages/Portionsizes.aspx for further information on portion sizes. • Many of the bright colours we see in fruit come from phytochemicals. Choosing a variety of different coloured fruits will provide us with a good mix of these health-enhancing nutrients. • To help get your five a day try adding a banana or blueberries to your breakfast cereal. - ENDS -