Eating a healthy diet

Eating is important for all of us. Different kinds of food give our bodies energy. How much energy our bodies need depends on:

How old we are (older people need less energy than younger people).
Whether we are men or women (women need less energy than men).
How heavy we are. Heavier people need more energy to do the same amount of work as people who are not heavy.
The kinds of lives we have and how much exercise we do.
Whether we are sick or not well, e.g. while a raised temperature may increase our energy needs, mostly people who are sick need less energy.
People who need a lot of help to move and walk may be using less energy.

It is important that we:

Drink plenty of water every day.
Move and keep fit by walking (or dancing, jogging, cycling, swimming, or going to the gym) because exercise keeps our bones and muscles strong.
Get the balance right between what we eat and what our bodies need.
Drink sensibly, if we drink alcohol.

‘Five-a-day’ and more

Most of us aren’t eating enough fruit and vegetables. We should encourage each other to eat healthily and take exercise. Our bodies are designed to be active. The more active we are, the more energy we have. Yet many of us spend too much time indoors watching TV and snacking, even though we may not be hungry. Eating healthily means eating a wide range of foods. Eating different kinds of foods may seem more expensive, but it is really worth doing for the sake of our health.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.