People who eat a wide variety of food are healthier, live longer and have reduced risk of developing lifestyle illness. Food choices influence our risk of developing illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Foods, in particular vegetables and fruit, contain a large number of naturally occurring substances known as phytochemicals. Scientists have identified over 12,000 of these phytochemicals many of which are thought to interfere with the processes that cause cancer and heart disease.
Food variety means eating a mixture of foods across the whole range of food types, such as vegetables, fruit, cereals, meat, fish and dairy products. Variety also means the range of foods within each of these types, e.g. cereals can be wheat, oats, rice, or barley.
To help you build a healthy diet, the Food Guide Pyramid gives the number of servings you should try to eat from each part of the pyramid every day. It usually lists a range of numbers, like 6 to 11 servings or 2 to 4 servings.
Most teenagers need to eat at least the smaller number of servings to get the nutrients they need and many will need more than the small number, especially those who are into sports and need extra energy.
Fuel For Living Recipe Book
A leaft from the 5 A Day website with some simple recipes that meet the 5-a-day target.
5 A Day
Five portions of fruit or vegetables per person per day help reduce the risk of some cancers, heart disease and many other chronic conditions.
The Vegetarian Society
Advice about becoming a vegetarian and information on the health benefits of cutting out meat.
Lifebytes
Tells you about eating healthily, watching your weight and food hygiene.
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