What exactly is a balanced meal? Fad diets and questionable nutrition advice are so widespread in the media that we often overlook the best and most basic healthy-eating model. 4 min.  Be the first to leave a comment Nutrition A very common piece of nutrition advice around the world is to ‘eat a balanced diet.’ This seems like quite an easy idea today, where words like ‘carbohydrates’, ‘fibre’, ‘fructose’ and ‘omega-3 fatty acids’ are now making their way into everyday conversation. In recent decades, scientific research has rapidly expanded the understanding of human nutrition, but this may make a healthy diet seem much more complicated than it used to be. How do we make sure we get enough – but not too much – of the seemingly endless numbers of nutrients out there? The good news is it’s actually pretty simple. A balanced meal is a snapshot of a diet that covers the three core food groups. As seen on this portion plate, the balance is a qu

Winter Nutrition The winter months can prove a nutritional challenge for some of us. Huddling in front of the fire and television on a wet, windy night is the perfect opportunity for planning healthy nutritious meals that not only satisfy but provide nutritional benefits. With some planning, you can help boost the immune system through good food and exercise, and better your chances from the winter ills. Here are our top eight tips for winter: Eat Plenty of Fruit & Vegetables.  Top up your immune system by eating antioxidant-containing fruit and vegetables. Choose  fruits and vegetables  that are in season such as mandarin, apples, grapefruit, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, cauliflower and potatoes. Make the most of frozen and canned fruits, which are readily available, and cheaper, at this time of year. Get your  5+aday  by making at least one fruit or vegetable a part of every meal and snack. Make a Casserole . With a casserole you are able to use ec

8 tips for healthy eating These 8 practical tips cover the basics of healthy eating and can help you make healthier choices. The key to a healthy diet is to eat the right amount of  calories  for how active you are so you balance the energy you consume with the energy you use. If you eat or drink more than your body needs, you'll put on weight because the energy you do not use is stored as fat. If you eat and drink too little, you'll lose weight. You should also eat a wide range of foods to make sure you're getting a balanced diet and your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs. It's recommended that men have around 2,500 calories a day (10,500 kilojoules). Women should have around 2,000 calories a day (8,400 kilojoules). Most adults in the UK are eating more calories than they need and should eat fewer calories. 1. Base your meals on higher fibre starchy carbohydrates Starchy carbohydrates  should make up just over a third of the food you