People, like cars, don’t run on pies, and a pint in each hand isn’t
a balanced diet!  Yet despite what people may think, we lads want
to know about keeping the weight down and eating well.

The rule is fairly simple. Eat well and long term you’ll feel well.
Eat junk food and eventually you’ll feel like junk.

There are five different food groups:

• Fruit and vegetables, (minerals)
• Bread, cereals and potatoes (carbohydrates)
• Milk and dairy products (calcium)
• Meat, fish and alternatives (proteins)
• Foods containing fats and sugars (fats and sugars)

Include foods from all of these groups every day to benefit your health.
But keep the fats and sugars to a minimum and choose lower fat and lower sugar versions when you can.

One of the best things you can do is eat a wide range of fruit and vegetables – aim for five a day.  Those of different colours all contain different substances, which can boost your immune system and help protect your body from various diseases.  

Each day try to:

• Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables of a range of colours
  whether fresh, frozen, dried or tinned.

• Eat a variety of foods from the five food groups.  Try to choose
  lower fat versions of dairy, meat and alternative products.

• Keep treats like biscuits, chocolate and crisps to a minimum.

• Drink 6-8 cups of fluid, preferably water.

• Eat regular small healthy snacks to keep your body ticking over.

• Avoid adding extra salt to your food.

And remember, any concerns about weight or diet issues
– your GP can advise.