Diet & Fitness 

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Bread is heaven

The standard guidelines state that your diet should be made up of 35 per cent fat, 16 per cent protein and 49 per cent carbohydrates. Current recommendations for a healthy, balanced diet is therefore to base most meals on starchy carbs like bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, etc. Eating bread is considered to be nutritious and beneficial towards health since it is inherently low in fat and high in carbohydrates and fibre, particularly if you opt for whole wheat or wholegrain versions.

However, if you load butter, margarine or another kind of fatty spread on your bread, it unnecessarily bumps up your calories and fat intake. Also, if you base all of your meals around bread, you could be missing out on nutrients contained in other starchy foods, such as the folic acid found in many fortified breakfast cereals. Instead, try replacing the bread with an item from the same starchy food group such as pasta, rice or a jacket potato at each meal.Also, make sure you are eating enough foods from the other main food groups. For more information on what types of foods you should be eating and how much, take a look at the iVillage food size guide.

Why not chat to other iVillagers about food on the Shaping Up message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:

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