Traffic Light System

1. Traffic Light System The traffic light system on food labels shows you whether food is high, medium or low in fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. This helps you make healthy choices when shopping.

2. Red = high:eat small amounts,or just occasionally • Amber = medium: ok most of the time • Green = low: a healthier choice

3. The traffic light system is really useful for ready meals to show if they are high in fat, sugar and salt • But remember, if ‘red’ foods are balanced with foods from the fruit and vegetable group over a whole day’s diet, they can be included in a healthy diet

4. Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) • These are a guide to show the recommended daily levels of certain nutrients needed to maintain good health • They are also a guide to recommended daily calorie intakes – however this will very according to level of activity and metabolic rate • Useful links for further information: Food Standards Agency, British Nutrition Foundation

5. Guideline daily amounts

6. Vegetarian Diet • Protein can be obtained from nuts, pulses, cereals and in very small amounts from vegetables • Fat can be obtained from nuts, vegetable oils, fats and spreads – these plant based products contain polyunsaturated fat • Carbohydrates are all of vegetable origin • Vitamins and minerals are available from fruit and vegetables

7. Jack’s daily calorie intake Orange juice 200ml – 70kcal Jam doughnut – 280kcal Steak pie – 690kcal 2 x Cola 330ml – 256kcal Crisps – 166kcal Quarter-pounder burger – 515kcal Chips – 240kcal Cream cake – 390kcal Total kcal = 2607 Does this look like a balanced diet? How does it relate to the ‘Eatwell Plate’ recommendations?