Is healthy eating your new year resolution?

Eating a balanced diet, featuring a wide variety of types of food and drink, is an important part of staying healthy and well. A healthy diet will look different for everybody, dependent on dietary needs, medical conditions and other factors.

The NHS’s Eatwell Guide recommends a few key principles that should be included in a healthy diet; at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day; balance high fibre, starchy foods with dairy (or dairy alternatives), beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein; drink plenty of fluids, and avoid regularly having too many foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.

Veganuary is a 31-day challenge to ‘go vegan’ - which means not eating animal-derived products (such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or ingredients like whey and gelatine). There are lots of plant-based products and vegan alternatives available as vegan diets have become more common.   

Studies vary greatly on how long habit-forming takes, with studies claiming your new action will become a natural habit in anywhere from 18 days to a year. However, the most important thing is committing to a new habit regularly and consistently, as the more you do it, the more it will become second nature!