Food, nutrition and exercise are crucial to our general health and well being and Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales strives to encourage positive attitudes to red meat and red meat products.
Lean red meat plays an important part in a healthy balanced diet, containing protein, vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health.
Having a good balance of foods can protect us against many common diseases including heart disease and cancer.
There are many benefits to a balanced diet:
-Looking and feeling better
-feeling fitter and having more energy
-improved body shape
-better weight control
-reduced stress and improved mood.
Balancing It
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) uses the pictorial model for a healthy diet called the Balance of Good Health. This contains 5 segments one of which is called "meat fish and alternatives". Moderate amounts of these foods are recommended to be eaten as part of a balanced diet.
Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef.com uses a similar model called "Getting the Balance Right" which has been based on the FSA model.
Top 10 balanced diet/ healthy eating guidelines
*base your meals on starchy food
*eat lots of fruit and vegetables
*eat some meat, fish, eggs, beans and pulses
*include some milk and dairy foods
*cut down on saturated fat and sugar
*try to eat less salt- no more than 6g a day
*get active and try to be a healthy weight
*drink plenty of water
*don't skip breakfast
*Prepare and store foods safely.
Meat and Health
HCC are one of the partners of meatandhealth, a key part of the service is a website offering comprehensive information about nutrition. Visit www.meatandhealth.com .Practice Nurses can also subscribe to a free newsletter called Nutrition For Nurses.