Healthy Eating
What we eat has a direct impact on our health and how we feel. Poor nutrition is not confined to developing or under developed countries; it is present in our society today. Many people in our society eat too much fat especially saturated fat, salt, sugar, alcohol and too little fruit and vegetables, and not enough bread, other cereals and potatoes. Diabetes Type 2, Osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, cancers, Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa, iron deficiency and tooth decay can all be attributed to a poor diet.
The Food Standards Agency’s Eat well plate above is a pictorial illustration of a well balanced and healthy diet. It shows the five main food groups and the proportions of each of the foods that are recommended to be eaten as part of a healthy diet.
It is generally recognised that there are no unhealthy foods, only unbalanced and unhealthy diets. The Food Standards Agency has adopted ‘Eight Guidelines’’ for a healthy diet:
- enjoy your food;
- enjoy a variety of different foods;
- eat the right amount of foods to be a healthy weight;
- eat plenty of foods rich in starch and fibre;
- eat plenty of fruit and vegetables;
- don’t eat too many foods that contain a lot of fat;
- don’t have sugary foods and drinks too often; and
- if you drink alcohol drink sensibly.
Useful Contacts
Should you require on further information on healthy eating, you may contact this department or consult any of the following websites
British Nutrition Foundation: www.nutrition.org
Food Standards Agency: www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet
Health Promotion Agency: www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk
Enjoy Healthy Eating: www.enjoyhealthyeating.info
