You are what you eat.....

So chances are if you eat unhealthily you are going to be unhealthy and if you eat too much of the wrong foods (white breads, cakes, chocolate, pizzas and chips) and don’t do any exercise you going to be feeling pretty unﬁt, unwell and maybe even spotty.

However, being healthy doesn’t have to be that hard and staying healthy doesn’t have to mean any huge changes in your life.

When you’re in your teens, it’s a time of much activity in your body and the need for lots of energy – but not the sort of sugary energy you get from caffeine drinks and chocolate bars – the more long term goodness you get from healthy foods.

[dotty line]

To be healthy you should choose a variety of foods from the main basic food groups:

Plenty of good starchy carbohydrates - bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, chapattis, couscous and potatoes (if you can try to choose the ‘brown or wholegrain’ alternative)
Plenty of fruit and vegetables - at least ﬁ ve portions every day.
Lots of dairy products, such as milk, yoghurt, fromage frais and pasteurised cheeses. (Try semi-skimmed milk if you can)
Enough protein, such as meat, ﬁsh, eggs and beans.
Not too many fatty and sugar-rich foods

Don’t miss out on the important stuff!

Iron deﬁciency is one of the most common nutritional deﬁciencies in the UK, and teenagers are at special risk with up to 13 per cent of teenage boys and girls found to have low iron stores.

As the body doesn’t absorb iron easily - it’s important that you eat red meats or food rich in vitamin C (try citrus fruits such as oranges, blackcurrants and green vegetables like broccoli)

To find out more visit http://www.5aday.nhs.uk/