Similar to the Mediterranean diet, the Eatwell guide is the governments healthy eating advice. You may well have seen a picture of this before. It is a plate set out with the different foods you need for a healthy, balanced diet and how much of each group you should eat. The aim isn’t to achieve this balance every day but as often as possible. The Eatwell plate suggests you eat:
- 5 portions of fruit and veg each day
- Meals are based on starchy foods including bread, rice pasta and potato. Preferably wholegrain where possible
- Eat more beans and pulses, 2 portions of fish each week, 1 of which should be oily. Eat less red and processed meat.
- Choose low fat and low sugar dairy products
- Choose unsaturated oils and spreads, consume in small amounts
- 6-8 glasses of fluid a day
- Small amounts of food/ drink high in fat, salt and sugar.
There seems to be a lot of conflicting research surrounding the Eatwell guide, mainly in relation to each meal being based on starchy foods. Whilst it is probably true there are better options out there for you to choose from, the Eatwell guide is great place for you to start your journey towards a healthier diet and is far superior to an unhealthy diet. It gives us clear information on what foods we should and shouldn’t be eating and also reminds us how much we should be drinking each day. While some will argue there is too much emphasis on starchy foods, it promotes eating 5 portions of fruit and veg each day as well decreasing our meat intake. It also still allows small amounts of the foods we enjoy, which from my experiences helps with maintaining the diet. Overall, it probably isn’t the most effective diet but is the simplest to start incorporating into your daily life which, if you live a very busy life could move this diet further up your list of choices.
