There are two main tips for eating healthily and staying well. These are to eat the right amount of food for the level of activity that you do and to eat a balanced diet containing the right types of food.
Firstly, base your meal around starchy foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and cous cous. Where possible who should try to choose wholegrain versions of these as they contain more fibre. There tends to be a view that starchy foods are fattening but this is not the case. What does need to be said however is that you must be careful what you cook them with or serve with them as this is where the calories are piled on!
Eat more fruit and veg! This has been said so many times yet a lot of people still are not eating 5 portions or more a day which is the recommended amount.
A lot of us are also falling foul of our fish quota per week! This should include at least one portion of oily fish such as mackerel, salmon or trout which contain high levels of omega-3 oils. Canned and smoked fish should be had in moderation however as they can be salty.
Reduce the amount of fats and sugar we take in. Fat can be either saturated or non-saturated and whilst we do need some fats we need to watch the amount of bad fats (saturated) that we consume.
The eat well plate has recently be launched by the food standards agency to help us to eat healthier and in the right proportions. It is a colour coded plate that is split into sections by colour. Each colour representing a different food group. By following the amount of the plate that is taken up by each colour we ensure the right balance to our diets.