National Guidelines For Healthy Eating

Introduction

Eating healthy is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Having a good diet can help to protect you from illness, improve your physical and mental wellbeing, and give you the energy to get through your day. The National Guidelines for Healthy Eating provide you with advice and information on what to eat and how to eat it.

What is Healthy Eating?

Healthy eating is about making sure you eat a wide variety of nutritious foods, including plenty of fruit and vegetables, and that you don’t eat too much of the less healthy, high-fat and high-sugar foods. It also means making sure you don’t skip meals, and that you get enough of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients your body needs.

The Guidelines

The National Guidelines for Healthy Eating are based on the Eatwell Guide. The guide sets out the proportion of different food groups that make up a healthy, balanced diet. It is recommended that you eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day and that you base your meals on starchy foods, such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta. You should try to eat less red and processed meat and more fish, nuts, eggs and beans. Dairy, such as milk and cheese, should be eaten in moderation.

Tips For Eating Healthily

There are a few simple steps you can take to help you eat healthily:

-Plan your meals in advance, so that you know you are eating the right foods.
-Avoid skipping meals, as this can lead to unhealthy snacking.
-Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
-Limit your intake of high-fat and high-sugar foods.
-Choose lean meats, such as chicken, turkey and fish.
-Choose wholegrain varieties of starchy foods, such as bread, pasta and rice.
-Drink plenty of water.

Conclusion

Eating healthily is an important part of looking after your physical and mental health. Following the National Guidelines for Healthy Eating can help you to make sure you get the right balance of nutrients in your diet. By planning your meals in advance and limiting your intake of high-fat and high-sugar foods, you can ensure you are eating a balanced, nutritious diet.

References

Department of Health and Social Care. (2020). Eatwell Guide. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide

NHS. (2020). Healthy Eating. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/