A well balanced diet is an essential part of maintaining a healthy body. A nutritious and varied diet can help to maintain a healthy body weight, enhance general wellbeing and reduce the risk of a number of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis.

For most people a healthy diet is a balance of breads, potatoes and other cereals plus a rich variety of fruits and vegetables. A healthy diet will include moderate amounts of milk and dairy products, meat, fish or milk/meat alternatives, importantly it will have limited amounts of foods containing fat or sugar.

No single food can provide all the essential nutrients that the body needs. Therefore it’s important to consume a wide variety of foods to provide adequate intakes of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, which are all important for your health.

To get you on the way to a healthy diet here is a quick and simple recipe idea:

Cashew Nuts, Rocket, Beetroot And Apple Salad

Although this is a raw salad it is perfect for kick-starting your system and clearing out the remnants of any excesses. Beetroot purifies the blood and calms a stressed mind, while Apples cleanse the intestines and boost the immune system.

Ingredients

1 apple (finely chopped)
1 carrot (peeled and cut into shavings)
2 large fistfuls of fresh washed rocket (chopped or torn)
2 small fresh raw beetroots (peeled and finely chopped)
1oz cashew nuts (toasted for a few minutes under the grill)

Dressing

a pinch of sea salt
freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon virgin
cold press olive oil

Method

1. Place the rocket, chopped apple and beetroot into a bowl and mix.
2. Add the carrot and cashew nuts.
3. Finally mix the dressing and pour over the salad just before serving.

How quick was that? A colourful, satisfying and cleansing meal – serve with rice cakes spread with cashew nut butter. Serves one hungry person!

Author: Alwynne Cartmell
Source: FitPro