More fruit and vegetables – less sugary food and drink in new healthy eating guidelines

[DRWF]

A new guide on what food to eat and healthy portion sizes has been produced by Public Health England to help people eat a balanced diet.

The newly published Eatwell Guide recommends that a healthy diet should now include more fruit, vegetables and starchy carbohydrates and have fewer sugary foods and drinks.

The guide also includes revised proportions of the food groups that can help people meet official advice and nutrition recommendations.

Eating healthily can be a vital part of self-management for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. By eating healthily and getting regular exercise people can reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

The guide replaces the previously available Eatwell Plate and is updated to reflect the latest dietary recommendations, including those on sugar, fibre and starchy carbohydrates from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) report on Carbohydrates and Health in 2015.

The latest recommendations place greater emphasis on the importance of fruit, vegetables and starchy carbohydrates, preferably wholegrain.

Public Health England recommends consuming 30 grams of fibre a day – which is the same as eating five portions of fruit and vegetables, two whole-wheat cereal biscuits, two thick slices of wholemeal bread and one large baked potato with the skin on.

Currently many people only consume around 19 grams of fibre per day, less than two thirds of the latest recommendation.

Sugary soft drinks have been removed from the Eatwell Guide image and foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar have been moved to the edge of the guide, reflecting advice that they are not an essential part of a healthy and balanced diet. Adults should have less than six grams of salt and 20 grams of saturated fat for women, or 30 grams for men a day.

For the rest of this article and more, please continue to read on the DRWF website bit.ly/1VF1MEa

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Does this include foods that are gluten free (i.e.: gf pasta with NO WHEAT)?

[DRWF Partner]

Please read the full article on the DRWF website

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to DRWF]

Will do.  Thanks!

[oceantragic]

I agree, they should replace the plate idea and just say Eat Real Food and that treats should be treats not part of most meals or snacks.

[LibreLlama Volunteers]

I understand that this update to the Eat Well Plate may be a little basic for some seasoned and well educated people living with diabetes. However, I do think it creates a really helpful visual guide for people that aren't aware of the food groups and who are still learning what types of foods affect their blood-glucose levels. I'm thinking of people like my mum who has newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes and my brother who also has Type 2 Diabetes. It is especially helpful to him, as he has learning difficulties and understands visual prompts more than being told.  I also prefer it to the traditional plate which has been done away with and replaced with an info-graphic style . It's a great tool to be used alongside other educational resources for people that need extra guidance with their dietary choices and diabetes management.