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Healthy eating and exercise

Eating healthily and taking regular exercise can have a significant impact on your health and make a real difference to how well you feel.

Obesity is increasing in Wiltshire and is now a major cause of preventable ill-health. This section of our site gives you a few simple ideas to help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, and to include exercise in your daily life.

Here are three simple steps to help you to create a healthy diet:

Three steps to a healthier diet

1. Cut down on foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar
2. Remember to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
3. Aim for a balanced diet that includes all five food groups

Eating a variety of foods each day will help make sure your diet is balanced, giving your body all the nutrients it needs.

This means including food from all five food groups:

  • Fruit and vegetables – aim for at least 5 portions a day
  • Starchy foods, such as rice, pasta, bread and potatoes – choose wholegrain varieties whenever you can and eat plenty of food from this group
  • Protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and beans
  • Milk and dairy foods – choose low-fat versions where possible
  • Foods containing fat and sugar – while our bodies need some fat it’s important to go easy on your intake of this food group.

Take a look at the Food Standards Agency's ‘eatwell plate’ for more ideas about creating a balanced diet.

Small changes can make a big difference

A few small changes to your diet can make all the difference to your health. For instance, why not choose porridge instead of a pastry for breakfast, swap your mid-morning biscuit for a piece of fruit. You could choose a tomato-based sauce to accompany pasta at an evening meal, and opt for crème fraiche rather than cream if you’re having a dessert.

How we’re tackling obesity in Wiltshire

NHS Wiltshire is taking a number of steps to help local people to keep to a healthy weight – including implementing a national 5 A DAY campaign, implementing Nutrient Standards in schools in Wiltshire and promoting healthy packed lunch options in schools. We’re also developing a cookbook for older people which provides recipes and advises on meal budgeting, planning and food safety.

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