1. Eight tips for eating well
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2016

2. Learning Objectives
The key learning objectives for this section are that you will:
Recognise the eight tips for eating well
Identify ways of achieving the eight tips for eating well
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

3. The eight tips for eating well are:
Base your meals on starchy foods
Eat lots of fruit and veg
Eat more fish – including a portion of oily fish each week
Cut down on saturated fat and sugar
Eat less salt – no more than 6g a day for adults
Get active and be a healthy weight
Don’t get thirsty
Don’t skip breakfast
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

4. Top tips for eating well
Leaner
Choose LEANER cuts of meat and remove any visible fat.
Lower
Choose LOWER fat, salt and sugar products – especially dairy and starchy carbohydrates.
Less
Use less spreads and oils.
Choose foods high in fat, salt and sugar LESS often.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2016

5. Base your meals on starchy foods
Starchy foods should make up about a third of the food we eat. They are a good source of energy and a source of nutrients such as fibre, B vitamins, iron, calcium and folate.
We should try to include starchy foods at every meal by basing our meals on starchy foods, e.g. potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrate foods.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

6. Base your meals on starchy foods
Choose high fibre or wholegrain foods where possible as they contain more fibre and often more of other nutrients than refined starchy foods.
Wholegrain foods include brown rice, wholewheat pasta, wholemeal bread, oats and breakfast cereals made from wholewheat (e.g. shredded wheat, wheat bisks).
How many starchy foods can you think of?
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

7. Eat lots of fruit and veg
It is recommended that we eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
A portion of fruit and vegetables for an adult is 80g.
Fruit and vegetables should make up just over one third of our daily food intake. Try to include some at every meal and also for snacks!
Choose a variety of fruit and vegetables as they contain different combinations of vitamins and minerals.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

8. Eat lots of fruit and veg
Fresh, frozen, canned, dried and fruit juices* all count.
Potatoes do not count towards 5 A DAY as they are a starchy food and belong in the potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrate food group of the Eatwell Guide.
* Fruit juice and smoothies count as a maximum of one portion a day. Limit your consumption to no more than a combined total of 150ml per day.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

9. Eat more fish
Aim for at least two portions per week and one of these should be oily. (1 portion = 140g)
Fish is a good source of protein and contains many vitamins and minerals.
Oily fish include salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, sardines and pilchards.
Choose from fresh, frozen, smoked and canned, but remember that smoked fish contains salt, and canned can do, so check labels and pick lower salt varieties.
For more information on fish please see
Also org/ for more guidance on sustainably sourced fish.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

10. Cut down on saturated fat and sugar
Although we need some fat in our diet, too much fat may lead to weight gain, as fat provides 9 kcal per gram, more than double that from carbohydrate and protein.
Replace saturated fats from butter, lard, pastries, cream, pies and cheese (which can increase your blood cholesterol levels) with unsaturated fats found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, oily fish and avocados.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

11. Cut down on saturated fat and sugar
Too much sugar, especially between meals can increase risk of tooth decay and will add extra calories so limit your added sugar intake!
Ideally, no more than 5% of the energy we consume should come from free sugars*.
Use food labels to check how much saturated fat and sugar foods contain.
*Free sugars - Any sugar added to food or drink products by the manufacturer, cook or consumer including those naturally found in honey, syrups and unsweetened fruit juice.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

12. Eat less salt - no more than 6g a day for adults
Eating too much salt is associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke.
Most of our salt intake comes from processed foods rather than salt added during cooking or at the table, so use food labels to help you reduce salt intake.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

13. Eat less salt - no more than 6g a day for adults
More than 1.5g of salt per 100g means the food is high in salt.
Adults and children over 11 should eat no more than 6g of salt a day. Younger children should have even less.
Try using extra herbs, spices, citrus juices (lemon and lime), mustard or vinegar to flavour foods so you can use less salt in your recipes.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

14. Get active and be a healthy weight
Eating a healthy, balanced diet plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy weight.
To achieve a healthy weight, we need to balance the energy from food and drinks with the energy we use up through activity.
Being active can help maintain a healthy weight by using more energy.
It is recommended that young people should do at least 60 minutes of physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity every day.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

15. What does being active mean?
Active living, e.g. walking, gardening.
Active recreation, e.g. playing, dancing, cycling.
Organised sport, e.g. netball, running, gymnastics.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

16. Don’t get thirsty
Around two-thirds of the body is made up of water. If we do not get enough fluid we may feel tired, get headaches and not perform at our best.
Children 4-13 are recommended to consume 6-8 glasses of fluid a day.
Children aged 14 and over and adults should aim for 8-10 glasses of fluid per day.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

17. Don’t get thirsty
Most types of drink e.g. water, lower fat milk and sugar-free drinks including tea and coffee all count.
Fruit juice and smoothies also count but as they are a source of free sugars consumption should be limited to no more than a combined total of 150ml per day.
You also get water from the food you eat – on average food provides about 20% of your total fluid intake.
We need to drink more when the weather is warm and when we are physically active.
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

18. Don’t skip breakfast
Breakfast is an important way to start the day. Those who eat a healthy breakfast may be less likely to snack on foods that are high in fat and/or sugar later on and may also be able to concentrate and perform better.
A healthy breakfast is an important part of a balanced diet, providing energy for your morning activities and provides some of the vitamins and minerals we need for good health. 
Base your breakfast on the main food groups of the Eatwell Guide for a healthy start to the day. Make sure you include a drink at breakfast time!
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015

19. Acknowledgement For further information, go to: www.food4life.org.uk
© LMC 2016
For further information, go to:
© LMC 2015
© Livestock & Meat Commission for Northern Ireland 2015