We're all aware that we're supposed to be getting our five pieces of fruit and veg a day, but with prices rising, how is one supposed to afford it? I can easily spend £50 a week on fruit and veg - and not the exotic ones that I love such as mangos and papayas, just on the basics such as apples, oranges, peppers and salad. Also, it's dispiriting to spend £3 on a punnet of strawberries only for them to go off in the fridge two days later. How can I get the mix I need in my diet without going broke?
Caroline, 38, London

When it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables try hard to buy only what you absolutely need. If you are not going to get the chance to eat a large bag of pears or apples, just buy the number you need loose. I know that this sounds blindingly obvious, but we've all done it.

Check everything carefully before buying: there is nothing more annoying than getting home and finding a partially squashed satsuma in the little net bag.

Pack your purchases carefully at the checkout because it is easy to find that, in your haste, tomatoes slip under potatoes and get crushed. People behind you may “tut” but it is your hard-earned cash that you are spending and a few extra minutes can preserve the life-span of your purchases by several days.

Transport them equally carefully and once home treat your purchases with respect. Avoid cramming different fruits into the same bowl: heavy oranges can, for instance, crush soft peaches, while bananas, which produce large amounts of ethylene gas as they ripen, can make other fruits around them go off more quickly. If your fruit and veg does begin to look past its best, remember that you can stew apples and pears and use soft fruits in home-made smoothies blended with milk as a nutritious and substantial snack.

Try to cook what you need, but consider that any leftover vegetables can be used in soups or even stir fries and when serving salad - only dress the bit that you use so that any left over can be popped back in the fridge. Talking of which, check the temperature of your fridge and keep it under 5C. Over-filling it can take temperatures above this and shorten the life of salad ingredients such as leaves and peppers and soft fruit such as strawberries.

If you have nutrition questions for Amanda, e-mail her at amandaursell@thetimes.co.uk

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