Find your healthier you

The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has launched its new-style annual Healthy Eating Week for 2021, inviting people of all ages and from all walks of life to ‘Find Your Healthier You’.

Taking place from June 14-18, Healthy Eating Week 2021 aims to encourage everyone, of all ages, to reflect on their lifestyles and find ways to enhance their own health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on what they eat and drink. The British Nutrition Foundation emphasises that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to a healthy diet and lifestyle and, for Healthy Eating Week 2021, the charity will launch a series of new resources providing information and tools to help people of all ages find their best approach to eating well and keeping active.

Roy Ballam, managing director and head of education, BNF, commented: “With the challenges we have all faced over the past year, we want to help people re-focus and feel empowered to look after their own health. So, through Healthy Eating Week we will provide a range of evidence-based resources and tools to help the nation tackle the barriers that can get in the way of eating well and moving more. We’ve adapted our themes and activities so that schools and workplaces, as well as individuals and families, can get involved – everyone is invited.”

Free to register, Healthy Eating Week attracts thousands of early-years settings, schools and workplaces every year to take part in a range of group-based and individual activities. This year, resources have been created to suit early years, individuals and families, as well as a wide range of workplaces.

To support the new ‘Find Your Healthier You’ format, Healthy Eating Week will focus on five daily themes:

• Know the facts: Day one will start with the basics of healthy eating, busting the myths around nutrition and giving practical advice on what (or what not!) to eat. It’s all based on the latest evidence and official guidance to help individuals make a positive difference to their health.

• Make a healthier choice: Tips and tools will be shared encouraging healthier choices. From reading food labels and getting to grips with portion sizes, there will be a range of handy pointers to help people on their journey.

• Plan for success: Planning and keeping track of what we do and eat is an established strategy for positive behaviour change and a range of food planners and tracking tools will be shared. Small changes can result in big gains when planning meals and snacks.

• Be the chef: This day will combine healthy eating know-how and practical cooking tips to help everyone make tasty, healthier meals. Healthier cooking tips will be given, with recipes and ideas for inspiration.

• Keep moving: It’s not just about what you eat and drink. Being active has many benefits for health and is an important part of a healthier lifestyle. Look forward to lots of ‘keep moving’ activities on the final day of Healthy Eating Week.

Roy continued: “From portion size and personal tastes, to what routine fits best with our lives, there really is no one size fits all when it comes to healthy eating. In recognition of people’s diverse needs, Healthy Eating Week 2021 will focus on a range of nutrition advice and planning tools, while bringing it all together with helpful cooking tips. We look forward to everyone getting involved in June!”

To register for British Nutrition Foundation’s Healthy Eating Week 2021, go to: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/hew.html.