Homepage > Health > Healthier lifestyle
Exercise
Exercise and fitness are part of looking good, feeling good and being healthy. Playing sport or keeping fit will help your confidence to feel good about your body, the way you look and your abilities. Taking part in sports or joining an exercise class are also great ways to meet up with friends or make new ones.
Healthy eating
Eating healthily is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Energy levels, concentration, mood, weight, skin, hair and nails and general appearance are all affected by the food you eat. Poor eating habits can lead to ill health later in life. It is important to understand that you are affected everyday by what you eat.
The secret to eating more healthily is to find a balance with the food you eat and incorporate fruit and vegetables into your normal eating patterns. Experimenting with different foods and methods of cookery can help you develop a more enjoyable and balanced diet.
Healthy alternatives
- Start the day with breakfast – This will kick start your energy levels and help stop cravings later.
- Replace unhealthier snacks with fruit – Fruit contains natural sugars which will give you energy.
- Try to choose carbohydrates like bread, boiled and jacket potatoes, pasta, etc. – Avoid high sugar and high fat sacks.
- Filling up on vegetables can make you feel fuller for longer.
- Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day.
- Eat yoghurt, milk and cheese to keep up calcium levels, especially whilst you are growing.
- Drinking fruit juices and smoothies instead of fizzy drinks can provide more natural sugars for energy and be kinder to your teeth.
Useful websites
Essex Young Life
Information on things to do and places to go, including sports clubs in Essex.
Sport Essex
The official body for sport in Essex and is recognised by Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Eat well, be well
The Food Standards Agency's consumer advice and information site.
NHS Live Well
Healthy living for everyone
Online tools
Healthy weight checker
Accurate for both adults and children, this new BMI calculator will tell you if you are a healthy weight. It will also provide you with personalised information and advice based on your results
Fitness widget
This tool is packed with ideas to help you lead a more active life. Each day you receive a new tip on how to keep healthy as a family, and there are also links to local information and associations.
Healthy eating self-assessment
Could your diet be putting your health at risk? Find out with this short assessment of your eating habits.
Fitness self-assessment
Take this simple assessment test to find out how fit and active you really are.
5 a day meal planner
This meal planner makes it easy to get your 5 a day. It's packed with tasty recipes and compiles your weekly shopping list for you.
Your Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for posting a comment.
Your message will be moderated before going live on the site.
Please enter a message.
Why not rate this article? Give this article your rating from (1) not very helpful to (5) very helpful