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Staying independent

Eating for good health

"I need some advice on how to eat well and manage my weight."

Eating well

Taking care to stay hydrated and eating a well balanced and healthy diet can help you to:

  • control your body weight
  • maintain a good immune system
  • stay in a better mood
  • be able to concentrate and process your thoughts
  • manage health conditions, such as diabetes
  • look after your body generally, including your heart, gut, bones and teeth
  • get a good night's sleep.

Eat well

The government has produced a handy poster to help us know how to eat well. The Eatwell Guide shows how much of each different type of food we should eat to make sure we get the energy and nutrients our bodies need.

It covers these 5 food groups:

  • fruit and vegetables
  • potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates
  • beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins
  • dairy and alternatives
  • oils and spreads.

You can find out more about the Eatwell Guide on the NHS website.

Alternatively, you can download the Eatwell Guide poster on the GOV.UK website.

Advice on how to eat a balanced diet is available on the NHS website.

Tips to shop healthier

Healthy eating does not have to cost more. With a bit of planning you can improve your diet and pop a few extra pennies in the savings jar too.

Here are our top tips:

  1. Create a weekly meal plan - doing so makes you far less likely to reach for a quicker, easier, junk food option at meal times.

  2. Write a shopping list - this helps you plan healthy meals.

  3. Go shopping after you have eaten - we tend to buy food we don't need when we are hungry.

  4. Avoid the junk food aisles - in most supermarkets you’ll find the fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat and fish are usually located around the edges of the shop - skipping the centre aisles can make a big difference to your trolley.

  5. Check nutrition labels - make sure what you're buying isn't too high in sugars or salt. Learn more about nutrition labels on the NHS website.

You can find more tips on how to eat well for less on the NHS website.

Food preparation services

Meal deliveries are a great way to make sure you get at least 1 good meal a day.

Here are some companies that offer this service in East Yorkshire.

Staying hydrated