What are the principles of healthy eating?

There is so much information available and so many theories about the best way to eat well, we can easily end up feeling confused and frustrated. But the principles are simple- variety and balance on the plate.

There is no one way to achieve a healthy, balanced diet; it has to reflect your body’s energy needs and your lifestyle, beliefs, and preferences. The “balanced plate” concept is a useful guide to the types and proportions of foods we should try to consume at meal times; apply it when shopping, cooking, or eating out, to help you eat a varied, nutritious range of food.

It isn’t essential to achieve the balance of food groups; namely carbs, proteins, fruit and vegetables, diary and fats at every meal just aim for it over the course of your day or week.

A healthy adult’s diet should contain all macronutrients, so 5+ portions of fruits and veggies, 3-4 portions of starchy carbohydrates, 2-3 portions of protein, 2-3 portions of diary and alternatives and a small amount of fat.

Eating a range of foods from these groups daily and a small amount of high-fat, sugar or salt foods only occasionally.

Using your hand is a great guide for portion control helping you understand how to plan your plate and get the right balance of the required macronutrients.

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