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Home > Eat Well

Eat Well

A healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health and can help you feel your best.

On this page you will find advice and support for:

  • Eating and Healthy Weight
  • Weight Support
  • Eating for Wellbeing
  • Eating Out: Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaways

What does a healthy weight mean?

BMI

Body mass index (BMI) is a way of measuring if you’re a healthy weight for your height. This can be used to determine if you are within a healthy weight range:

  • A BMI of 18.5 or lower is underweight
  • A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is a healthy weight
  • A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is overweight
  • A BMI of 30 or higher is obese (well above the healthy weight range for your height)
  • A BMI of 40 or higher is very obese

Click here to find out your BMI.

Weight gain occurs when you regularly eat more calories than you use through normal bodily functions and physical activity so losing weight means eating fewer calories and burning more energy through physical activity.


Weight Loss Support

One You EAT BETTER

What you eat, and how much, is so important for your health and your waistline. Try these easy ways to eat better every day.

One You DRINK LESS

See how many calories are in a glass of wine, a pint of beer, alcopop and other alcoholic drinks

OneLife Suffolk Weight Management

OneLife Suffolk provides up to 12 months of FREE adult weight management support for adults with no medical issues with a BMI over 30. For ethnic minority groups or adults with certain medical conditions with a BMI over 27.5.

Slimming World Logo

Slimming World

If you need support with weight management but are unable to attend one of the FREE OneLife Suffolk 12 week programmes or you wish to try something different, a free 12 week Slimming World voucher.

BDA Food Facts

Food Fact Sheets are written by dietitians to help you learn the best ways to eat and drink to keep your body fit and healthy.

If you have a BMI over 25 you can also search NHS Weight Loss Plan.

PHE Eat Well Guide.

The Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.


Download these One You Apps – a quick way to a healthier you.

Download Drink Free Days App here

Drink Free Days is a free, simple and easy way to track the days you drink alcohol and the days you don’t. Feel healthier, lose weight and save money simply nominate days to take off drinking and get practical, daily support to help you stick to it.

Download the Change4Life Food Scanner app

To bring labels to life and find out what’s really in the food and drink you’re buying.

Change4Life helps families be healthier and happier. Find out more about what’s really in the food your family eats.

Download Easy Meals App here

Easy Meals is a free app where you will find delicious, easy meal ideas if you’re ever short of inspiration. Search recipes by meal time and create shopping lists.


Eating for Wellbeing

Healthy food is good for our all-round health. Eating certain healthy foods is particularly good for our mental health and wellbeing. There is evidence that changes in our diet can decrease the development of mental health issues.

Did you know what you eat can be influenced by how you feel such as feeling stressed and having poor sleep (NHS 2018)?

The mental health charity Mind have produced lots of helpful advice about Food and Mood.

Did you know:

  • Less sugar to help reduce negative thinking?
  • Nuts and seeds for preventing dementia?
  • Beetroot to feel happier?
  • Cheese to help regulate your emotions?

Fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains for stable mood

Complex carbohydrates are sugars made up of large molecules They are found in fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains and are beneficial for brain health as they release glucose slowly into our system. This helps stabilise our mood.

Simple carbohydrates are found in sugary snacks and drinks and create sugar highs and lows. These swings rapidly increase and decrease our feelings of happiness. Cutting down on sugary drinks and snacks can reduce negative effects on our psychological well-being.

Oily fish, nuts, seeds, leafy vegetables, eggs for preventing depression and dementia!

Oily fish, nuts, seeds, leafy vegetables, eggs, and grass-fed meats commonly contain Omega 3 fatty acids. These fats have been found to increase brain functioning, can slow down the progression of dementia and may improve symptoms of depression.

Omega 3 are essential nutrients that are not readily produced by the body and so we need to eat the right foods to make sure we have them in our diet.

B vitamins for happiness!

Green vegetables, beans, bananas, and beetroot can help us feel happier! These foods contain B vitamins which play a large role in the production of the chemical serotonin and dopamine. These improve our happiness levels. Make sure you have good amounts of Vitamins B6, B12, and folate in your diet to protect against depression.

Protein to help you regulate your thoughts and feelings!

Protein is in lots of foods: lean meat, fish, eggs, cheese, legumes like peas, beans and lentils, soya products, nuts and seeds. Protein contains amino acids, which help your brain to regulate your thoughts and feelings.

Keep hydrated for clear thinking!

If you don’t drink enough fluid, you may find it difficult to concentrate or think clearly so make sure you drink plenty water.


Healthy Food Swaps

Download these wellbeing food swap fact sheets:

Good Mood Food Swaps

Stress Less Food Swaps

More Energy Food Swaps

Sleep Well Food Swaps


Eating out: cafes, restaurants, work canteens and takeaways

Find takeaways that have has been awarded for providing healthier options, click here.

Find a map of restaurants and cafes that provide healthier choices here.