A BALANCED DIET

A balanced diet is based on five food groups which are fruit and vegetables, bread, other cereals and potatoes, meat, fish and alternatives, milk and dairy foods. The major food groups which are protein, carbohydrates, fats, fibre, vitamins.


PROTEIN: meat, fish, eggs etc


CARBOHYDRATE: bread, rice, pasta etc


FIBRE: is a component of carbohydrate and is mainly found in fruits and vegetables.

FATS: meat. dairy foods, nuts and some oily fish. Fat provides a concentrated source of energy and is a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins A D E and K.  Essential fatty acids are important in the formation of cell membranes, particularly in nerve tissue.


VITAMINS: are complex organic substances that are needed in very small amounts, but are essential for health. There are two groups, fat-soluble and water-soluble, both types have to be provided by the diet the body does not make them. The exception is vitamin D, which is processed by the action of sunlight on the skin.