Balanced Diet - Eating Healthily
Eating a balanced diet involves eating a balance of food from each of the 5 main food groups, which are:
- bread, cereals and potatoes (starchy foods)
- fruit and vegetables
- meat, fish and alternatives
- milk and dairy foods
- foods containing fat or sugar
What do People Eat Too Much Of?
If you are experiencing problems with your weight and you are unsure about what you eat too much or too little of, it is sensible to consult a qualified nutritionist or health professional for advice. However, if you are overweight it is quite likely that you are eating too much fat or too much sugar in your diet. A high fat or high sugar diet will contain lots of calories and may well lead to weight problems.
Another quite common problem for health in terms of eating habits is eating too much salt which can lead to high blood pressure.
Too much alcohol can also contribute to weight problems (as well as contributing to other health problems - for general information about alcohol and health see alcohol and health issues).
What do People Eat Too Little Of?
Most people could benefit from eating more fruit and vegetables and more starchy foods.
Fruit and vegables (particularly when eaten fresh and raw or cooked quickly and lightly) are good sources of vitamins and minerals, which are an important part of a balanced diet. They also tend to be relatively low in calories and high in fibre.
At the time of writing, the recommended health advice in the UK is that you should aim to eat at least five portions a day of fruit or vegetables, one portion being equivalent to 80g - e.g. one apple, one banana or one orange would probably count as one portion.
What Should I Change In My Eating Habits?
Consistent with the above information, if you want to lose weight through dieting in a sensible way, you should ensure that you follow a balanced healthy diet (if in doubt consult your doctor or a qualified nutritionist) and that you eat sufficient quantities to give you enough energy for your daily tasks.
If like many people who are overweight, this is because you are eating too many sugary or fatty foods (cakes, butter, biscuits, chocoloate, crisps...) - then it makes sense to cut down on these. This doesn't mean that you have to cut them out completely - it's best to set yourself a goal that you think you can achieve rather than setting yourself up to fail!
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