Why is eating healthy and getting enough exercise important?

Healthy eating and exercise is very important, not only for how you look, but also for how you feel.

A healthy diet means cutting down on your fat and sugar intake, and eating more fresh fruit and vegetables and plenty of fibre. A good balanced diet can give you all that your body needs. For help and tips with healthy eating and dieting, check out the NHS Live Well pages.

Exercising helps keep your body and muscles fit and strong. You can do things like walking to school or work, walking the dog, running, cycling, swimming, dancing or playing a sport.

To keep fit and healthy, try to aim for an average of 60 minutes of physical activity a day across the week

• These activities should make you breathe faster and feel warmer.
• You can spread the physical activity throughout the day.
• Try to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting during the day.

If you're looking to improve your cooking skills or just starting out in the kitchen, then this Cookbook created by our leaving care young people's group, is a great for any student or young person - SkintFlint Cookbook

How can I get more active?

For ideas and help with exercise and getting active, check out the following:

Find useful tips on the NHS Live Well website

Get inspiration from the BBC website 

Try the Active Suffolk activity finder - Active Suffolk Website

You could also:

• Visit the This Girl Can website
• Join in a local Park run
• Search sports videos on Youtube or Vimeo - like Joe Wicks workout videos
• Search for leisure clubs in your area on Suffolk Infolink or see our leisure section
• Find free yoga videos on Youtube - Try Yoga with Adrienne
• Try a One Life Suffolk Health Walk

Try these Apps:

• Get running with NHS Couch to 5K 
• Download the walking App Active 10 
• Get Sugar Smart App from Change4Life which tells you how much sugar is in what you're eating and drinking, just by scanning the barcode of a product! Cut down your sugar intake by downloading the Sugar Smart App

Food and feelings:

Sometimes food affects things that we might not expect, so its important to understand that what we eat influences how we feel and our emotional wellbeing.

All kinds of issues may be linked to what we eat - confidence and self-esteem, migraines, skin health, stress, and tiredness. To find out more, visit the Nutritionist Resource website

You find out more about how what you eat affects your mood on the Mind website

Movement and Mind:

Did you know that the more we move the more happier we feel! Increasing how much you move each day can improve your emotional wellbeing and mental health. Find out more on our Movement and mind page

Who can I speak to about healthy eating advice?

Try speaking to a school nurse for support and advice - they offer weekly confidential 'drop-ins' in secondary schools. Send a text to 07507 333356, ask in school to find out more or for more information see our ChatHealth page

Need some help to keep fit and healthy?

If you feel you need a bit of help and support to get active and live a healthy lifestyle, get in touch with OneLife Suffolk who have programmes designed to help you.

All the programmes provided by their young person's team are delivered by specifically trained practitioners who offer a combination of interactive sessions, physical activity and games along with education. To find out more, take a look at the One Life Suffolk website

Get in touch with OneLife Suffolk:

• Email info@onelifesuffolk.co.uk
• Call 01473 718193
• Find them on Facebook
• Follow them on Twitter @OneLifeSuffolk
• Follow them on Instagram @onelifeyp or @onelifesuffolk