A lot of diets and diet companies will tell us we need to eat a certain amount of food, at certain times, in certain combinations. When we consider that different people have different metabolic rates, it doesn’t make sense that two people should follow the same meal plan. For one person, it may be adequate, for another person it may not fulfill their energy requirements, and trying to stick to the meal plan can set that person up for overeating and the many physical and emotional effects of restricting food.

Many diet companies/programs will advise complicated meal plans with rigid rules and routines – this can mean that eating no longer remains a simple process of listening to the appetite. Nutrition and eating can seem like an overwhelming task. However, feeding our bodies, like putting petrol in a car is as simple as being aware of when energy supplies are low, and topping them up.

To function the human body needs:

1. Energy (Kilojoules)
   • Carbohydrates - pasta, rice, cereal, fruit & vegetables, legumes
   • Proteins - meat, fish, dairy products, legumesFats-oils, dairy products
2. Vitamins and Minerals
   • Although vitamins and minerals have no energy value (kJ) they are essential to enable the body to utilise the energy in carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
3. Water

How much do we need?

The best measure of energy requirements is appetite. The amount of energy that an individual body requires is dependent on several factors:

1. Metabolism - the energy required to enable the body to function
2. Activity Level - amount of exercise and everyday activity
3. Age - different age groups have different energy needs

Weight Change