Healthy Eating
Welcome to HELPP's healthy eating page. On this page you will find some information about healthy eating and different food groups, along with a short list of some other websites that can provide healthy eating information and advice. The HELPP resource library also contains some literature on healthy eating, please feel free to contact Linda for more information. Alternatively if there is a website that you have found useful but that HELPP has not listed on this page then send us the details and we will try to include your recommendations.
Links to external websites are purely for information and HELPP takes no responsibility for the content of them.
HEALTHY EATING is about getting the right balance between the different food groups:
Bread, other cereals and potatoes
The benefits
Starchy foods like breads, pasta, rice, cereals and potatoes should form the bulk of most of your meals and snacks.
These foods are a valuable source of carbohydrate, which gives us energy. They are filling but provide a lot less calories than fatty foods. Just be careful not to add lots of fats like spreads, dressings, sauces and fillings or cook them in added fats (like chips, for example). They also contain vitamins, minerals and a little protein. What's more, they provide fibre to keep our digestive systems healthy. Wholegrain breads, pasta, rice and cereals have more fibre so try to eat these more often.
Fruit and vegetables
The benefits
Fruit and vegetables contain a huge variety of vitamins, minerals and other substances, which help keep your body healthy from day to day. It is also possible that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables may protect against some diseases later in life, like heart disease or cancer. Try to eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day to boost your health.
Milk and Dairy Foods
The benefits
These foods are rich in calcium as well as being a good source of protein, B vitamins and other minerals. 3-4 portions of milk, cheese or yoghurt should provide you with all the calcium you need for one day. When you are trying to lose weight it's better to stick to the low fat versions. They are generally no more expensive than the full fat alternatives.
Meat, fish and alternatives
The benefits
This group includes foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds, peas, beans, lentils and meat alternatives like soya mince or quorn. They are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, especially iron, but you don't need huge amounts.
Fat and sweets
One of the healthy eating guidelines is to enjoy your food and this is where these foods come in! While not essential for health, these foods add to the taste, variety and the enjoyment of food. Some can be used in small amounts every day like butter, spreads and cooking oils.