What is the Eatwell Plate?     

 

The eatwell plate is a great way to explain healthier eating, especially to children and young people. It is clear, simple and can be used with

anyone, of any age from any background.   

The eatwell plate helps you get the balance right. It shows how much of what you eat should come from each food group. Click to watch The Eatwell Plate video.

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The Eatwell Plate consists of 5 different food groups. 

 1. Fruit and Vegetables 2. Bread, Rice, Potatoes, Pasta and Other     Starchy Foods. 3. Milk and Dairy Foods.

4. Meat, Fish, Eggs, Beans and Other Non Dairy Sources of Protein.  5. Food and drinks high in fat and/or    sugar.  

 

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1. Fruit and Vegetables

We need to eat LOTS of this group

We should all be eating more fruit and vegetables. But most of us aren’t eating enough. We should be eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.  You can choose from fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced.   

But remember potatoes  do not count.

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What do these  5 groups consist of?

2. Bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other

starch foods provide us with energy and contain many important vitamins

and minerals.  Wholemeal versions are good sources of fibre and help to provide

energy over a sustained period.   

 

 We need to eat LOTS of this group

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3. Milk & Dairy Foods    contains calcium which is needed to keep teeth and bones strong and healthy.  It is really important that children get enough calcium when they are growing up in order for their bones to develop properly.We need to eat  SOME of this group

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We need to eat SOME of this group

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4. Meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non dairy sources of protein. This group is essential for our growth and development. Vegetarian alternatives are included in this group, for example, tofu, soya and lentils. Oily fish is a great source of essential fatty acids such as omega 3. 

 

5. Foods and drinks high in fat and/or sugar should be eaten only once or twice a day.   

Foods from this group should be eaten 

 ONLY OCCASIONALLY 

Foods from this group contain few nutrients and vitamins and when eaten to excess can cause weight gain.

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Healthy eating is about getting a    balance of  different foods.  

The 'Eatwell Plate' can assist us to get this message across.

Did you know?*Fifteen per cent of preschool children consume just under half their

recommended daily energy intake in the form of sugary drinks. *Infomation provided by http://www.waterforhealth.org.uk/

No food is completely  healthyor completely     unhealthy.

There are some foods that we should try to eat more of and others that we should eat only occasionally.

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