We all know that we're supposed to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day but for many of us, in reality, that can be harder than it sounds. This is especially true for veg, with so few of us eating the recommended amount that a staggering 20,000 lives could be saved every year in the UK if each of us ate just one extra portion of vegetables every day. With the health benefits of eating a nutritious veg-high diet clear, how can the NHS help to ensure that as many of us as possible get our fill of veg in a sustainable way? In Cardiff, the Health Board hosts an organisation called Food Cardiff which is made up from a number of partner organisations from the third sector as well as Cardiff Council. In this episode, we talk to Pearl Costello, Food Cardiff's Sustainable Food Cities Coordinator, who works with these partner organisations to help inform people of the benefits of veg and teach them how to best cook it, secure pledges to serve more veg in meals from big businesses such as Brains pubs, support local growers and businesses such as the Cardiff Salad Garden, and work to help those who struggle to afford fresh fruit and veg to eat healthy balanced diets through local pantry schemes and various benefits such as Healthy Start vouchers. 

If you've been affected by any of the topics we cover in this episode and would like any advice about or help with food, please visit the Food Cardiff website (www.foodcardiff.com) to get in touch with Pearl. Alternatively, you can drop me an email at [email protected]