HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Eating well for good health
Te kainga pai e ora pai ai
What you eat can make a huge difference to your health and wellbeing.
Choosing healthy and nutritious foods can lower your risk of getting health problems. It can help you manage health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It can also boost your energy levels and make you feel good.
Tips for eating well
The following tips can help you make healthy and nutritious eating choices.
Have regular meals
Have regular meals to keep your energy levels up and your mind focused. Regular meals can also prevent hunger pains and overeating.
Be smart with snacks
If you are physically hungry between meals, have a small nutritious snack. For example, cheese, hummus, peanut butter or avocado on a slice of wholegrain toast or crackers. Being physically hungry is your body telling you to eat. Signs include your tummy rumbling or feeling low on energy. For more information, see Smart snacking for adults.
Eat plenty of different coloured vegetables and fruit
Vegetables and fruits are full of fibre, vitamins and minerals. These can help to keep you healthy and protect you from heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
Have at least five servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day (a serving is about a handful). Try to have vegetables or fruit at all meals. They are also great snacks.
Eat wholegrains
Wholegrains can help keep your bowels healthy. They can help you feel fuller and reduce your cholesterol and blood glucose (sugar) levels. They can also reduce your risk of diseases such as heart disease and bowel cancer.
Have at least one meal a day based around a wholegrain. Wholegrains include wholegrain bread, rolled oats, brown rice and wholemeal pasta. It also includes grains like quinoa, millet, barley and buckwheat.
Watch the sugar
Sugary foods and drinks provide lots of calories but not much nutritional value. Choose foods that are naturally sweet and contain lots of nutrients, like fruit. Keep sugary foods and drinks as occasional treats.
Have some low‑fat milk and milk products every day
Milk, yoghurt and cheese give you nutrients like protein, calcium and some B vitamins. These help to keep your body and bones healthy and strong. If you choose a plant‑based milk such as soy, oat or almond, make sure it has added calcium. Choose natural yoghurts, as fruit yoghurts can contain lots of sugar and additives.
Watch your portion sizes
Use your hand to judge portion size. Or follow the healthy plate model for lunch and dinner:
- fill half your plate with vegetables or salad
- fill a quarter of your plate with protein‑rich food like meat, chicken, seafood, eggs, legumes (dried beans, split peas and lentils), tofu, tempeh or Quorn
- fill a quarter of your plate with wholegrains or starchy vegetables such as potato, kumara, corn or taro.
Drink plenty of fluids
Drink at least eight cups of fluid a day. Water is best. Low‑ or reduced‑fat milk (light‑blue, green or yellow top) and tea and coffee with no sugar are also fine. If it is hard to drink tea and coffee without sugar, add a tiny bit of the natural sweetener stevia.
Go easy on alcohol
If you drink alcohol, follow national guidelines on how much to drink safely.
Prepare your own meals
Try to cook most of your meals at home. This can help you take charge of what you are eating and check exactly what goes into your meals. It can also help you eat fewer calories. If you do have takeaways, choose healthier options.
Eat mindfully
Eating quickly, on the run or while distracted can lead you to eat more food than you realise or need. Eating mindfully can help you gain control over your eating habits.
Where to find out more about eating well
Talk to your general practice team for more information and visit the websites listed below.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- Te Whatu Ora Waitaha – Eating well videos
Advice about eating well. This includes tips for choosing healthy foods, the recommended number of servings for different food groups and what a serving is.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Hapū Hauora – Oranga kai (healthy food)
Information on healthy eating from a Māori perspective.
- Healthy Food Guide
This site is full of information, recipes, videos, and expert advice to help you make healthy choices.
- Ministry of Health – Healthy eating, active living
This booklet has easy-to-follow advice on how to choose healthy foods and drinks, have a healthy bodyweight and be active every day.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2022.
Sources
See also:
Review key: HIHEI-34305
