Most of us, most of the time are just getting by and the thoughts of overhauling what we eat, to eat better, healthier, to lose weight, to build muscle etc can just be too much for us to take on. Life is short, too short indeed to be depriving ourselves constantly, not allowing ourselves to eat this or that. It’s on our to-do list to eat better and exercise more and we know deep down that our to-do list never gets done, we just keep adding to it! Maybe a simpler approach, one that is less overwhelming and easier to take on is accepting that we don’t have to do it all, like we see in social media. Understanding that real change can come from the small, repeatable actions that matter most to us and our lifestyle, can be the most beneficial.

Most of us maybe aware that fibre is good for our health and that we need to be consuming it as part of our diet. However, do we understand what fibre is, why its good for our health and what food sources should we be eating to ensure we meet the required intake? So, what is fibre?

Climate change is a global concern but how does what we eat impact on it? We understand now more clearly, the environmental impact and food waste at all stages of food production, from farm to fork. The farming and manufacturing processes used to produce the food we eat, as well as the way we eat and dispose of food is damaging the planet.

The latest Healthy Ireland Report outlines that only 28% of the population eat 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables each day, a number which unfortunately has continued to decline since 2021. Eating fruit and vegetables is advised within all the dietary guidelines, due to the health benefits that they confer. They are high in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, including bioactive plant compounds, with antioxidant properties such as polyphenols or beta-carotene.

For the first time a report published last year from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), examined vitamin D intake in people in Ireland aged between 5 and 65 years. Based on this review it was recommended that as well as intake from food sources, everyone take a vitamin D supplement especially teenagers, pregnant women and people of dark-skinned ethnicity who are at highest risk of vitamin D deficiency.

If we were to read some social media posts, protein is all we should be eating, all day every day! Whether it’s a high protein diet, protein supplements or shakes, protein is the proposed solution for weight loss, to build muscle, support joints or indeed preventing Alzheimer’s.

To help support your nutrition while on holidays, this month we have compiled some advice to help reduce the stress you may feel.