Balancing a Healthy Diet

1. Poultry, meat, fish and other variations

We all need a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals in our daily diets, and poultry, meat, fish, eggs, beans and nuts are all a great source for these.

You should be eating at least two portions of poultry, meat, and fish each week as this will provide you with all the protein you need for a balanced diet.

Salmon, mackerel and fresh tuna (Which are oily fish) are very good for you as they are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and a great source of vitamins A and D. White fish such as haddock, cod, and plaice are also very low in fat.

You must take things into consideration when buying meat,

• Keep away from meats such as salami, sausages, and burgers as they contain a lot of salt and fat.
• Some meats are higher in fat than others and can lead to an increase in cholesterol and the chance of heart problems, so when possible it is better to stay away from these meats.
• Try and pick healthier meats to eat, such as turkey, chicken and pork, and take off the skin to make them even healthier.
• Always try to cut off as much excess fat from meats as possible.

Tip

A good tip is to steam, grill, bake or even poach your meats for a healthier way of eating and limit the amount of frying of meats as much as possible.

2. Milk and dairy

Cheese, milk and yogurt are all a great source of protein and vitamin A, D and B12.

They are all rich in calcium which helps to keep healthy bone structure, and are particularly important for growing children to maintain healthy teeth and bones.

Care still has to be taken with milk and dairy as high levels of saturated fats can be found in a lot of dairy products. High consumption can be linked to heart disease because of the amount of saturated fats and these types of products should be eaten in moderate amounts, or lower saturated options should be taken when possible

When trying to reduce the saturated fat intake try switching over to skimmed milk and low fat yogurt as these still contain the essential vitamins and minerals, such as protein, potassium, vitamin B and zinc but has less fat and in turn is better for your waistline without making any sacrifices.

Dairy and milk shouldn't be avoided as they are a vital part of a balanced diet.