The eatwell plate highlights the different types of food that make up our diet, and shows the proportions we should eat them in to have a well balanced and healthy diet.

It's a good idea to try to get this balance right every day, but you don't need to do it at every meal. And you might find it easier to get the balance right over a longer period, say a week.

Eating healthily is about about eating the right amount of food for your energy needs. In England, most adults are either overweight or obese. This means many of us are eating more than we need, and should eat and drink fewer calories in order to lose weight.

Based on the eatwell plate, you should try to eat:

Plenty of fruit and vegetables

Did you know that we should be eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and veg every day? More on five daily portions of fruit and veg

Plenty of potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy foods

Choose wholegrain varieties whenever you can, or eat potatoes with their skins on for more fibre. More on starchy foods

Some milk and dairy foods

More on milk and dairy foods

Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein

More on meat More on eggs More on beans and pulses

Just a small amount of foods and drinks high in fat or sugar

More on fat More on sugar

Try to choose options that are lower in salt when you can. More on salt

Is the eatwell plate for me?

The eatwell plate applies to most people – whether they're a healthy weight or overweight, whether they eat meat or are vegetarian, and no matter what their ethnic origin.

However, it doesn't apply to children under the age of two because they have different nutritional needs. Between the ages of two and five, children should gradually move to eating the same foods as the rest of the family, in the proportions shown on the eatwell plate. 

Anyone with special dietary requirements or medical needs might want to check with a registered dietitian whether the eatwell plate applies to them.