Healthy eating

Staying healthy requires a good mix of exercise and eating well.

A varied and balanced diet is not just about keeping fit and well. It also makes mealtimes more enjoyable, introduces you to different foods and flavours and for some people, helps to manage a health condition and reduce the risks of health issues such as:

  • diabetes
  • heart disease
  • stroke
  • some types of cancer

How to eat healthily in Solihull

Diets high in salt, sugar and fat can increase your risk of developing conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Weight management services in Solihull

Local free weight management services are available through Solihull Lifestyle Service.

Make a referral to Solihull Lifestyle Service

You can also call 0800 599 9880 free of charge.

Your GP can also make a referral to the service on your behalf.

Eat Well Move More

Eat Well Move More is a healthy lifestyles programme for families with children aged 4-16 years who have concerns over their child’s health, and would like support and guidance to make healthy lifestyle changes.

The programme includes healthy eating and nutritional advice, tips and ideas for being more active, fun activities and games as well as interactive resources for the whole family to get involved.

Reduce your risk

Taking simple steps to eat more healthily can reduce your risk:

  • Get your 5 a day (fresh, frozen or tinned fruit and vegetables all count)
  • base your meals around starchy foods
    • high fibre versions are healthiest such as wholemeal bread or pasta
  • proteins such as meat, fish, eggs, beans and pulses form part of a balanced diet
    • low fat options are best
  • eat fish twice a week
    • ideally at least 1 portion of oily fish like mackerel, fresh tuna (not canned) or salmon
  • increase your unsaturated fats
    • vegetable oils, oily fish and avocados
  • cut down on salt
    • more than 1.5 grams of salt per 100 grams of serving or portion per person is high in salt
    • adults and children over 11 years old should eat no more 6 grams of salt each day
    • children under 11 years old should eat less than 6 grams of salt each day
  • cut down on saturated fats
    • sausages, pies, cakes, hard cheese and biscuits
  • cut down on sugar
    • sugared cereals, cakes, fizzy drinks, biscuits and what you add to your tea or coffee
  • have dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurts in moderation
    • low fat options are best

Eating well with a health condition

If you have a diagnosed health condition, you may need to maintain some sort of controlled diet. However, this does not mean that you cannot enjoy your food.

Take a look at the following information if you need to know about healthy eating advice tailored for:

Healthy eating with the NHS

With an entire section dedicated to healthy eating on the NHS website, there is an excellent NHS Healthy eating self-assessment which everyone can use.

The NHS also offers a range of tools and extensive advice on any area of food and eating you could possibly hope to savour.

Healthier Families

The Healthier Families website has a whole area dedicated to healthy eating with information for adults, children and families.

Livewell

The NHS’ Livewell website is excellent for all aspects of living a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating. 

Highlighting each different food type that we have in our diets and the amounts we should be trying to eat most of the time, it is a clear and concise way to flatter your platter.