Eating healthily and Healthy Weight
Eating Well
Eating
a healthy balanced diet is a well established component of good health;
it helps maintain a healthy weight, keeps the heart healthy, decreases
the chance of developing type II diabetes and keeps bones healthy and
strong preventing the onset of osteoporosis.
However, sometimes it isn’t as easy as it sounds; not knowing what is good for you, conflicting messages, and a lack of cooking skills can make it difficult to know where to start. Below are some top tips to help you start eating well:
- Base meals on starchy foods - try choosing wholegrain varieties of bread, pasta, and rice
- Eat lots of fruit and veg - five a day
- Eat more fish - two portions a week of oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines
- Cut down on saturated fat and sugar - foods such as cakes, crisps, chocolate, pizza, and burgers
- Try to eat less salt - no more than 6g a day
- Drink plenty of water - 6-8 glasses (1.2 litres) of water and other fluids are needed a day to stay hydrated
- Don’t skip breakfast - it’s the most important meal of the day
For more information on the top tips and healthy eating visit the NHS Choices food page.
Healthy Weight
Dartford Borough Council and Healthy Living Centre Dartford are working together to deliver programmes to help Dartford residents improve their health by reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
To find out more, or to sign up to any of the programmes, contact the Healthy Living Centre Dartford on 01322 311265 or e-mail info@hlcdartford.co.uk.
Why Weight
Why Weight is a FREE 12 week adult weight management course run by qualified professionals to help you lose weight.
The programme focuses on helping people to understand the relationship between food, exercise and weight control. Each weekly session focuses on a particular subject, such as food labels, portion sizes and eating out as well as a weekly weigh-in. At the end of each session there is the chance to take part in an 30 minute gentle exercise class specifically for Why Weight Plan members only.There is also a Men Only Why Weight course.
Don't Sit Get Fit - Dynamo Club
The Don’t Sit Get Fit team based at Healthy Living Centre Dartford work with children and their families to promote healthy weight through good nutrition, regular physical activity, and positive body image. If you are worried about your child's weight and would like help to manage it Dyanmo Club can help. The FREE 12-week course is designed to help children and their families get fitter and healthier by:
- Learning how to make healthier food choices
- Learning to cook with Dartford's Community Chef
- Discovering new tasty foods
- Trying new games, activities and sports with qualified coaches
- Spending time together as a family
- Making new friends
- And most importantly having FUN!
Sessions are run by an activity coordinator and registered nutritionist. Contact the Healthy Living Centre for more details, or alternatively you can complete this self referral form.
