Healthy eating
It can sometimes be difficult to eat a healthy diet, when life is so busy, but eating the right food in the right amount, can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. It can also reduce the risk of serious health problems, maintain strong bones and muscles, improve resistance to infection, keep energy levels up and improve your mood.
It's important to eat a healthy and balanced diet, where possible, which includes:
- Fruit and vegetables (aim for five portions a day)
- Bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods (try to choose wholegrain varieties)
- Some milk and dairy products
- Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein (try to eat at least two portions of fish a week, including a portion of oily fish)
Top tip: Don't let yourself get thirsty! It's important to try and drink about 1.2 litres (two and a half pints) of fluid every day to prevent dehydration. All non-alcoholic drinks count, but water and low fat milk are the healthiest choices. Try to avoid sugary soft and fizzy drinks, as these are high in added sugars and calories and they're also bad for your teeth. Don't forget to drink more when you're active or it's warm.
Local support
Healthy Lifestyle Service
If you’re 16 or over and motivated to make a change, you can receive expert face to face healthy eating and weight loss support, for up to 12 weeks, from Herefordshire's Healthy Lifestyle Service. To find out more, contact:
💻 hlts@herefordshire.gov.uk
📱 01432 383567
You can also download a copy of the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) healthy eating / healthy weight leaflet...
National support
Change4Life offers some fantastic ideas for children and families to eat healthily and be more active, including food swaps, lunchbox inspiration, 100 calorie snacks and the food scanner app.
The NHS provides a wide range of information to help adults and children eat healthier, including advice for eating healthily during pregnancy and tips for little fussy eaters.
One You offers a great range of information on healthy eating, including advice on calories, saturated fats, reducing sugar and salt, recipe ideas and an easy meal app. Why not also take the One You how are you quiz and see how you score?
Start4Life provides information and advice on pregnancy, babies and toddlers, including first foods, healthy snacks, foods to avoid and how to spot an allergy.
Want to cook more?
If you're looking to start cooking more at home, there's lots of easy and healthy recipes you can try, using basic kitchen ingredients. Take a look at our cooking at home page, for recipe ideas and inspiration!