Ways to eat well

Start off your day with breakfast

Skipping breakfast may seem like a good idea at the time, but a healthy daily breakfast is essential as it provides fuel to help the body function more effectively throughout the day.

Don’t forget fish

Try to eat at least two portions of fish per week. One portion should be oily fish, such as sardines, salmon, trout, pilchards and mackerel as these provide a valuable source of protein and omega-3 fats.

Water is essential for life

The human body is 60% water so it is essential to keep hydrated. Try to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses (1.5 to 2 litres) of water or other fluids throughout the day to avoid getting dehydrated. You may need to drink more than this if you are hot or exercising.

Drink responsibly

When it comes to drinking alcohol, it is important to know your limits. Men should drink no more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day, and 2-3 units for women.

Cut down on salt

Around 75 per cent of the salt in our diet comes from processed foods, so try to cook using fresh ingredients when you can. Checking food labels can help you avoid foods that are high in salt (6g salt, 2.4g sodium is the daily maximum).

Cut back on sugar

Sugar is often known as ‘empty calories’ as it contains only calories with no other nutrients. Checking food labels helps you to work out if a food is high (more than 15g sugar per 100g) or low in sugar (5g sugar or less per 100g). It’s best if you can avoid foods with a high sugar content.