Welcome to the health and
diet website, packed with articles on weight loss,
diet and health issues.
When choosing a diet or weight loss
program please consult a doctor. Remember everything
isn't just about loosing weight or weight
loss, your health is you wealth, so choose
a sensible diet.
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HEALTHY
EATING
Eating the right food, and enough of it, is vital
for
keeping warm and healthy. If you are living in
a hall of
residence you will probably be given a balanced
diet, but
you should still be careful to make sure that
you eat
enough fresh fruit and vegetables. If you have
special
dietary requirements (eg for religious or cultural
reasons)
make sure the catering authorities know.
If you are cooking for yourself, eating healthily
can be
more difficult, especially if you are not used
to cooking
for yourself. Most big towns have stores or areas
where
you can buy food from different parts of the world,
so
you should be able to find food that is familiar.
A healthy diet is one which includes
elements from all
the main food groups (protein, fat, carbohydrate,
vitamins and minerals). You should try to eat
something
from each of the following groups every day:
• bread, rice, pasta or cereals
• milk, cheese, yogurt
• fresh fruit and vegetables
• meat, fish, eggs, lentils, nuts or beans
It can be fun experimenting with new and different
types
of food if you have the time, and cooking does
not have
to be expensive. Food costs vary. As a rule, supermarkets
will be cheaper than the corner shop and street
markets
will be cheaper than supermarkets. Vegetables
that are
in season (ie grown locally and available without
being
stored or imported) are usually a cheap source
of food.
When preparing food, keep in mind that it is important
to take some simple steps to avoid food poisoning
(caused by different sorts of bacteria):
• put chilled and frozen food in the fridge
or freezer as
soon as possible
• prepare and store raw and cooked food
separately
• make sure the coldest part of the fridge
is below 5°C
• use food before the ‘use by’
date
• keep animals away from food
• wash hands thoroughly before preparing
food and
especially after going to the toilet
• keep your kitchen clean
• defrost and cook food well especially
eggs, poultry
and meat.
If sometimes you do not have the time or inclination
to
cook for yourself, a meal at your institution
or student
union refectory will probably be the cheapest
alternative. Restaurants can be expensive, although
local
cafés can be good value for money.
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