How to eat your 5-a-day for under £2 in autumn

Autumn is arguably the best season to eat well on a budget in the UK. British apples, pears, root vegetables, brassicas and foraged blackberries mean you can eat extraordinarily well for almost nothing.

The £2 autumn five-a-day plan

Portion 1 - Carrot (3p) A single large carrot from a loose bag costs around 3p at Aldi or Asda. One of the best nutrition-per-penny foods available.

Portion 2 - Cabbage (8p) A Savoy cabbage costs around 65p and provides 8 portions. Rich in vitamin C, K and fibre.

Portion 3 - Apple (20p) British apples are at their peak in September and October. A bag of imperfect apples from a farm shop costs around £1 per kg.

Portion 4 - Blackberry (0p) Free from any hedgerow or footpath. High in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants. Pick extra and freeze for winter.

Portion 5 - Kale (25p) A 200g bag of kale costs around 85p at most supermarkets, less at Aldi. Provides an extraordinary amount of vitamin K, C, calcium and iron.

Total: approximately 56p

With foraged blackberries your entire five a day costs under 60p in autumn. Shifting to what is actually in season right now is the single most effective thing you can do for both your health and your food budget.