Food and nutrition

Cereals and wholegrain foods

Common cereal foods include bread, breakfast cereals and pasta.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a high fat food that can be consumed in moderation as part of a nutritious diet.

Fats - butter or margarine?

Margarine is a healthier choice than butter, but look for margarines that have less than one per cent trans fatty acids.

Fats and oils

Animal products and processed foods like fried fast food are generally high in saturated fats.

Fibre in food

A diet high in fibre keeps the digestive system healthy.

Fish

Eating one or two serves of fish weekly can reduce the risk of a range of diseases including dementia, depression and cardiovascular disease.

Foods from plants and animals

Some of the foods we eat come from animals and others come from plants.

Fruit and vegetable - types

There are many varieties of fruit and vegetables available. Eat five kinds of vegetable and two kinds of fruit every day for good health.

Fruit and vegetables - benefits

Research shows eating fruit and vegetables can help protect against some diseases including diabetes and some cancers.

Fungi poisoning

Contrary to popular belief, there is no home test that can distinguish between edible and poisonous varieties.

Herbs

Use herbs to enhance the flavour of virtually any dish, including desserts.

Milk - facts and fallacies

Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium.

Nuts

Nuts are a healthy food and a good source of protein and healthy fats.

Olive oil

Choosing extra virgin olive oil as part of a healthy well-balanced diet may reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases.

Salt

Too much sodium (salt) can cause high blood pressure and many other health conditions.

Soybeans

The soybean may be a ‘superfood’ that can reduce the risk of a range of health problems.

Sugar

Too much sugar in the diet can contribute to health problems, so limit foods and drinks with high amounts of added sugar.

Tea leaves and health

More research is needed to discover the exact health benefits of tea drinking.