A guide to eating well

Why it’s important

Eating well helps you to: 

• stay healthy 
• be independent 
• improve your quality of life. 

Food gives you energy. Energy helps you do the things you need and want to do each day.

Eating a range of foods is important to get all the nutrition your body needs to support your health. 

Eating may change as you get older

This may be due to: 

• appetite (how hungry you are)
• mobility (getting to the shops, carrying groceries, cooking meals)
• oral health
• taste changes
• illness
• fatigue
• grief
• pain
• mental health
• cost of food and living.

If eating has changed for you, see our factsheets for ideas and tips. 

If you are eating less than usual, talk to your GP or Accredited Practising Dietitian.

Planning your meals

Planning your meals can help you:

• budget (working out how much money to spend on food)
• manage your time to shop, cook and eat
• eat a wide variety of foods from the five food groups.

Eating over the whole day

Our eating changes from day to day. To get everything your body needs, aim to eat a variety of foods each day. Choose foods from each of the five food groups. These are:

• lean meat and alternatives 
• milk, yoghurt, cheese or alternatives
• vegetables
• fruit
• grain (cereal) foods.

Download the 'Whole day of eating' factsheet

Watch the video: Why eating well is important for older people