People have plenty of choice when selecting their five a day and they do not need to always choose fresh fruit in order to fulfil their recommended allowance, experts say.

This is because healthy eating is much easier than what many people are led to believe, according to a representative from the British Diabetic Association (BDA).

Rachel Cooke, senior public health dietician with the BDA, said: "Things like the frozen vegetables tend to be frozen so quickly nowadays, that actually they are nutritionally great to include in your diet so it's really no problem including the frozen choices."

Ms Cooke also revealed that canned foods can be beneficial for cooks, as they last longer and can help people to reach their five a day even if they are snowed in.

Meanwhile, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has found that food prices were on average five per cent higher in 2009 than in 2008, with consumers spending 3.6 per cent more on food and drink products.