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Diet
Guidelines for a healthy diet:
These guidelines indicate the type and proportion of foods that make up a healthy diet
Enjoy your food
Eating is an important part of everyone's lives. Food should be enjoyable as well as providing a good balance of nutrients as uneaten food will provide no nourishment at all. All foods provide some nutrients and contribute to the taste, smell, colour, texture and enjoyment of a meal.
Making time to relax while eating and to share a meal with friends and family is an important part of enjoying meals.
Eat a variety of different foods
No single food provides all the nutrients required for the body to stay healthy. A mixture of different foods needs to be eaten throughout life. Choosing foods for a healthy diet doesn't mean having to give up favourite foods.
Variety is important as well as making fruit and vegetables, also foods like bread, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta and potatoes the main part of the meal. Snacks as well as meals count towards the balance.
Eat the right amount to be a healthy weight
Food provides the energy (calories) used to keep the body active and functioning properly. Each person needs a different amount of energy and therefore each individual differs in the amount of food they should eat. However much people need, the proportions of food from the five groups in the Balance of Good Health remain the same.
Energy needs are affected by gender, age, body size and activity level:
- Women tend to need less energy than men
- Older adults tend to need less energy than adolescents and young adults
- The more active a person, the greater their energy needs.
A healthy weight is best achieved and maintained by both being physically active and by not eating more calories than are used up. Not eating enough for the body's needs could lead to underweight and ill health. Overeating can cause overweight, which can lead to ill health including heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes.