What is a Healthy Eating Plate?

A balanced diet that provides your body with all the necessary nutrients, is the key to good health. Most people are unaware of how their meals lack the main essentials for a healthy eating plate. 

Here is what you need to know about a healthy eating plate-

Fruits and vegetables are major sources of minerals and vitamins, yet you may not be eating enough of them. Make it your daily goal to consume at least five proportions of fruits and vegetables. 

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will give your body all the vitamins and minerals. Over a third of what you eat a day should be comprised of fruit and veggies. 

You can choose to have them in fresh, juiced, frozen or in dried form. Remember to limit the intake to a total of 150 ml per day if you choose to go with juice or smoothies.

Your meals should be based on rice, potatoes, bread or other foods with starchy carbohydrates. Starchy food is an essential part of a healthy diet and should be more than a third of what you eat every day.

Varieties of high fiber, whole grains like brown rice or whole wheat pasta are great sources of starchy food to choose from. A range of nutrients can be added to your diet with starchy foods as they are also a great source of energy.

Calcium is an essential nutrient for your body as it makes your bones strong. Yogurt, cheese, milk are great sources of calcium, vitamins, and proteins. 

If you want dairy alternatives, go for low-sugar, low-fat products like reduced-fat cheese, plain low-fat yogurt or 1% fat milk.

Fish, meat, eggs, pulses, beans are good sources of proteins, along with essential vitamins and minerals. If you are searching for alternatives to meat, you can go for pulses like peas, beans, and lentils. They are the best alternative to meat, being high in protein and fibre, while being low in fat at the same time. 

If you choose to eat meat, make sure you eat less red and processed meat and get lean cuts of meat. Remember to consume less ham, bacon, and sausages which are high in fat.

Unsaturated oils and spreads are healthy fats but should be eaten in small amounts. These include olive, rapeseed, sunflower and vegetable oils.

It’s recommended to drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids a day. Drink plenty of water, sugar-free or low-sugar drinks, and low-fat milk. Fluids also include smoothies and juices, but these drinks should be limited to 150 ml a day as the free sugar contained in these drinks can damage your teeth.

Put them all in you ‘to-eat’ list and go through your day ticking off each of them and you will have a healthy eating plate worthy of a healthy lifestyle.