Eating well is an important part of being healthy. Our bodies need the nutrients in food to give us energy and to help us grow. It's easy to become confused about what are 'good foods' and 'bad foods' but eating a balanced and healthy diet means simply eating a variety of food every day and in the right amounts. The Balance of Good Health plate below shows how much of each food type we should eat.

The foods are grouped into five basic types:

Bread, Cereals, Potatoes and Pasta

Foods like these provide us with starch, which is a type of carbohydrate. Our bodies use this for energy and so we should make these foods the main part of our meal. These foods also contain calcium, fibre, B Vitamins and iron. Wholemeal varieties are particularly good, as they will add fibre to our diet, helping our digestive system to process the food through our bodies.

Eggs, Meat, Fish and Nuts

These foods provide us with protein, which our bodies use for growth and repair. They also contain B vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium and zinc. We should try to eat some protein every day, as it cannot easily be stored in our bodies. Vegetarians need to ensure they eat enough protein, as they don't get protein from meat, so foods such as eggs, beans, lentils and nuts are important for them.

Milk and Dairy

These foods provide us with protein, needed for growth and repair of the body. They are important sources of calcium, which is needed to strengthen bones and teeth. They also contain vitamins such as B12, A and D. Low fat varieties of dairy products e.g. semi-skimmed milk are equally good and contain less fat. Children up to 5 years old should not eat low fat versions though, as they need the extra fat for their developing bodies.

Fruit and Vegetables

These foods provide us with vitamins A and C and minerals such as iron, potassium and calcium. They are a good source of fibre needed for healthy digestion, and contain some forms of sugar, a type of carbohydrate, which gives us energy. We should try to eat at least 5 portions of fruit or vegetables every day. A portion is whatever will fit into your hand. Remember - fruit juices can count for one portion but potatoes don't count!

Foods containing lots of Fat and Sugar

These foods provide our bodies with fat and sugars, both of which give us energy. Some also give us essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Our bodies need these foods and we should not stop eating them altogether but most people eat too much fat so we should try to eat smaller amounts, less often.