Food
Food is a very important and necessary part of our lives. Not only do we need food to live but food is also an important part of celebration in all nations of the world, regardless of culture or religion. It can unite and strengthen community bonds and helps to maintain a common identity among a group of people. Different countries use food in different ways to help celebrate special occasions like Christmas, New Year, weddings and birthdays.
Follow this link to discover what foods are eaten over the world to celebrate various events.
However, food is also eaten for other reasons, perhaps comfort eating, boredom, sadness and loneliness. This can lead to problems of weight gain, which makes us feel worse about ourselves. Crawley Wellbeing is here to help you to have a positive and healthy food intake, and to help you to take the necessary steps for you to achieve this.
Why not start out by taking some easy self-assessment tests to find out more? Or find out what's on offer in Crawley? Click on the buttons below:
Eat Well courses
Losing weight generally makes us feel fitter, happier and more able to take on the world. To register your interest in the cook and eat course or the family or adult weight management courses please use the online registration form.
We hope to help you to understand:
- What is a healthy, balanced diet
- What is a healthy weight
- Why you should try to maintain a healthy weight
- Specific services that we can point you towards to help you achieve your own health goals
What is a Healthy Diet?
The two key elements of a healthy diet are:
(1) Eating the right amount of food for how active you are, and
(2) Eating a range of foods to make sure you are getting a balanced diet.
The right amount of food for you will mean that you are a healthy weight and if you are an adult, that you will maintain your weight at this healthy level. Click on the link to find out if you are a healthy weight.
A range of foods should include foods at each meal in amounts similar to those shown on the eatwell plate.
A healthy diet contains a variety of food, lots of fruit, vegetables and starchy foods such as wholemeal bread and wholegrain cereals; some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and lentils; and some dairy foods.
The Food Standards Agency gives us eight tips to help us to eat well:-
- Base your meals on starchy foods
- Eat lots of fruit and veg
- Eat more fish - including a portion of oily fish each week
- Cut down on saturated fat and sugar
- Try to eat less salt - no more that 6g a day for adults
- Get active and try to be a healthy weight
- Drink plenty of water
- Don't skip breakfast
If you would like more information about the eatwell plate or the eight tips to eat well, visit www.eatwell.gov.uk. Remember - maintaining a healthy weight is also about how active you are.
What is a healthy weight?
Most doctors and experts these days use a measure called Body Mass Index or BMI to assess whether your weight is healthy or not. BMI is worked out by a simple calculation for which you need to know your height and weight. Click on the link to open an on-line BMI calculator. You should aim to have a BMI of between 18.5 and 25 to be in the healthy range.
Why should you try to maintain a healthy weight
A combination of factors determines our weight, and that's why it's difficult to set an exact ideal weight that applies to everyone. There is a range of healthy body weights. Aiming to keep within this means an end to aspiring to one magic weight you think you should be. Being over or under a healthy weight can lead to health problems in the long term, so trying to maintain a healthy weight means you have a greater chance of:-
- Having a healthy blood pressure
- Feeling good about yourself
- Sleeping well and having more energy
It will also mean you are reducing your risk of developing some long term conditions such as heart disease, stroke or cancer. So all in all you will be much more likely to have lots of energy and zest for life.
- contact crawley wellbeing - online enquiry form
| Lose Weight Online | |
|---|---|
| Weightwatchers | www.weightwatchers.co.uk/online |
| Online Slimming Club | www.onlineslimmingclub.co.uk |
| Rosemary Conley | www.rosemaryconleyonline.com |
| Slimming World | www.slimmingworld.com |
| Your Choice Diet | www.yourchoicediet.com |
| Tesco | TescoDiets.com/Slimming_Diets |