Eating a balanced, nutritious diet is essential for good health and wellbeing. But with so many food choices available, it can be difficult to know what to eat. By making healthy food choices and understanding what makes up a healthy diet, you can give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
What Are Some Healthy Food Options?
The key to eating healthily is to make sure you get the right balance of nutrients. A good way to achieve this is by following the Eatwell Guide, which shows the different types of foods and drinks we should consume each day and in what proportions. This includes:
- Fruit and vegetables – aim for at least five portions a day.
- Starchy foods, such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta – choose wholegrain varieties where possible.
- Protein – such as fish, eggs and pulses.
- Dairy products – including milk, cheese and yoghurt.
- Unsaturated oils and spreads – like sunflower or olive oil.
Tips for Eating Healthily
Making small changes to your diet can help you make healthier food choices:
- Plan your meals in advance. This will help you avoid unhealthy snacks or takeaways.
- Eat more fruit and vegetables . Try adding them to breakfast cereals or having them as snacks between meals.
- Cut down on saturated fat . Choose leaner cuts of meat, reduced-fat milks or dairy alternatives like soya products.
- Cut down on sugary food . Swap sugary fizzy drinks for water or unsweetened tea or coffee instead.
- Be mindful of portion sizes . Use smaller plates when serving food so that you don’t have too much on your plate at once.
By making small changes to your diet and following the Eatwell Guide you can begin to make healthier food choices which will benefit both your physical health as well as your mental wellbeing.
Conclusion:
Healthy food options include a variety of fruits and vegetables, starchy foods such as wholegrain varieties of bread, rice and pasta; proteins such as fish, eggs and pulses; dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt; unsaturated oils such as olive oil; plus other healthy options like nuts, seeds and legumes. Making small changes to your diet can help you make healthier choices while following the Eatwell Guide can ensure that you get all the essential nutrients needed for good health.