Eating for health

Our dietIt is important to choose a

variety of foods to ensure that we obtain the range of nutrients which we need to stay health. There are guidelines about the amount of nutrients needed by different people. These include dietary reference values(DRV) estimated average requirements(EAR) and reference nutrient intake(RNI)

The eat well plateThe eat well plate shows the types and

proportions of the four main food groups

• Fruit and vegetables• Bread, rice, potatoes and pasta,• Meat, fish, eggs and beans• Milk and dairy foods• Foods and drinks high in fat and

sugar are not essential for life and should not be eaten often.

that are needed for a balanced diet.

The eat well plate is suitable for most people except-

• children under 2• People under medical supervision • People with special dietary needs

A health diet• A health diet should not be boring.• You should achieve it by cutting down on fat,

salt, and sugars and increasing fibre.• To help consumers do this manufacturers

have voluntarily adopted a system of traffic light labelling

• Red the amount is high –eat occasionally• Amber the amount is neither high or low• Green means the amount is low-sp this is a

good choice to make.

• Some manufacturers use a different system based on guide line daily amounts(GDA).

• These labels show the percentage of sugar, salt,fat and calories in each serving.

Maintaining a healthy weight• By balancing the calories you eat with being

physically active you can maintain your weight.

• If you eat more calories than you need your body will store this as fat. To reach a healthy weight you should try to have a calorie controlled diet. If your weight increases to a point where it endangers your health you may become obese.

• Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing

• Coronary heart disease• Some cancers• Type 2 diabetes• High blood pressure

The Food Standards Agency and the department of health are working together to try and prevent /reduce obesity.

Healthy weight ,healthy livesMany people in the UK are

overweight or obese. Health Weight, Healthy Lives is a government strategy aimed at lowering obesity and weight gain.

The strategy.....• Aims to support people to have a

healthy diet combined with an active lifestyle

• Aims to increase life expectancy• Should help to reduce the cost to

the National Health Service(NHS)for treatment of health and related health problem.