You CAN eat that

 

Eating healthily is not just about eating the right amount of food – not too much and not too little. It’s also about eating a range of foods which is why it’s referred to as a balanced diet.

Now I’ve heard so many people saying that starchy foods should be avoided, or that you can’t eat any fat whatsoever, but in reality, your body needs some of these things in order to be healthy. You just need to know not to overdo some things.

Your diet should always include:

• Lots of fruit and vegetables – at least 5 portions a day but choose a variety.
• Bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods, but you should choose wholegrain if you can. Starchy things give energy. Now I know people that are trying to lose weight think they should cut out starch but gram for gram it contains fewer than half the calories of fat.
• Some milk and dairy foods – yes, you do need a little fat
• Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein. You should have at least two portions of oily fish such as salmon, mackerel or sardines. These are packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s fine to choose canned from time to time but just check the salt content.

Below is a diagram I got from the National Health Service showing how much of each thing you should be eating. You’ll see that the diagram even includes things that are high in fat and sugar – but this is the smallest portion. Check it out next to the portion size for fruit and vegetables!

So don’t go on any crazy diets or stop eating the things you like completely. Like most things in life, it’s all about finding the right balance.

Christoulla Boodram
http://chrisboodram.blogspot.com
Twitter: @ChrisBoodram

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