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What Is Healthy Eating?
Food and the way we feel about it are linked in so many ways
1. Eating regularly
Image Credit Eating regularly is having three meals and 2-3 snacks a day at regular intervals.
Regular eating is important to help keep your blood sugar level stable, preventing dizziness, tiredness and becoming ‘hangry’.
Eating regularly helps prevent you from becoming really hungry and over eating, which can lead to you feeling out of control.
Young people use up a lot of energy with all the learning and socialising they do, so regular eating is key to maintaining a healthy mind and body.
2. Having a balanced diet
Image Credit Food can be divided into six main food groups. A balanced diet includes all food groups:
- Protein – such as meat, dairy and pulses
- Carbohydrates – such as rice, potatoes and bread
- Fat – such as oils, spreads and avocado
- Fruit and vegetables – such as bananas, broccoli, tomatoes
- Dairy or dairy alternatives – such as milk or soy products
- Occasional foods – such as chocolate, crisps, cake
This balance of food groups helps us to ensure our body is getting all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Carbohydrates are essential for providing energy to fuel our day to day activities and boost our mood, whilst fat is essential for the absorption of some vitamins and minerals.
Occasional foods are to be enjoyed in moderation and form part of a healthy, enjoyable diet.
3. The freedom to enjoy foods
Image Credit Healthy eating is about enjoying a range of foods; not following a set, restricted diet that tells you it’s ‘healthy’.
There’s no such thing as a good or bad food! These fad diets often include strict rules, limited food choices and make you feel bad when you ‘fail’.
Often these types of diets can set you up to ‘fail’ as they’re so restrictive that you crave the foods you’re missing out on and end up over eating them.
‘Normal eating’ is eating when you’re hungry, eating because it’s a meal time and sometimes just eating because you fancy the food.
how to get help
If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.
Find help in your local area
Find help in your local area
Find out what services are available to you in your area. Remember your school nurse is always there to give you confidential help and support.
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