Download Meat, fish, eggs and beans: all good sources of protein

A balanced diet
Despite what you see in some diet books and TV programmes, healthy
eating can be really straightforward.
A diet based on starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta; with
plenty of fruit and vegetables; some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and
lentils; some milk and dairy foods; and not too much fat, salt or sugar, will give
you all the nutrients you need.
When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is the key to getting it right. This
means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions, and consuming
the right amount of food and drink to achieve and maintain a healthy body
weight.
Food groups in our diet
people should try to eat:
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plenty of fruit and vegetables
plenty of starchy foods, such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta
some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
some milk and dairy foods
just a small amount of food and drinks that are high in fat, salt and/or
sugar
Try to choose a variety of different foods from the four main food groups.
Fruit and vegetables: are you getting your 5 a
day?
Fruit and vegetables are a vital source of vitamins and minerals. It's advised
that we eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day.
There's evidence that people who eat at least five portions a day have a lower
risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
Eating five portions is not as hard as it sounds. Just one apple, banana, pear
or similar-sized fruit is one portion. A slice of pineapple or melon is one
portion. Three heaped tablespoons of vegetables is another portion.
Having a sliced banana with your morning cereal is a quick way to get one
portion. Swap your mid-morning biscuit for a tangerine, and add a side salad
to your lunch. Have a portion of vegetables with dinner, and snack on dried
fruit in the evening to reach your five a day.
Starchy foods in your diet
Starchy foods should make up around one third of everything we eat. This
means we should base our meals on these foods.
Potatoes are an excellent choice and a great source of fibre.
Try to choose wholegrain or wholemeal varieties of starchy foods, such as
brown rice, wholewheat pasta and brown, wholemeal or higher fibre
white bread. They contain more fibre.
Learn more from our starchy foods page.
Meat, fish, eggs and beans: all good sources of
protein
These foods are all good sources of protein, which is essential for the body to
grow and repair itself.
Meat is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Try to eat lean cuts of
meat and skinless chicken whenever possible to cut down on fat.
Fish is another important source of protein. Oily fish is particularly rich in
omega-3 fatty acids.
Aim for at least two portions of fish a week, including one portion of oily fish.
Eggs and pulses (including beans, nuts and seeds) are also great sources of
protein.
Milk and dairy foods: avoid full fat varieties
Milk and dairy foods such as cheese and yoghurt are good sources of
protein. They also contain calcium, which helps keep your bones healthy.
To enjoy the health benefits of dairy without eating too much fat, use semiskimmed, lower-fat hard cheeses or cottage cheese, and lower-fat yoghurt.
Eat less fat and sugar
Most people in the UK eat too much fat and sugar.
Fats and sugar are both sources of energy for the body, but when we eat too
much of them we consume more energy than we burn, and this can mean
that we put on weight. This can lead to obesity, which increases our risk of
type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, heart disease and stroke.
There are different types of fat?
Saturated fat is found in foods such as cheese, sausages, butter, cakes,
biscuits and pies. This can raise our cholesterol, putting us at increased risk
of heart disease.
Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, can help to lower cholesterol. Oily fish,
nuts and seeds, avocados, olive oils and vegetable oils are sources of
unsaturated fat.
Sugar occurs naturally in foods such as fruit and milk, but we don't need to cut
down on these types of foods. Sugar is also added to lots of foods and drinks
such as sugary fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, pastries, ice cream
and jam. It's also contained in some ready-made savoury foods such as pasta
sauces and baked beans.