Set aside the headlines, and a genuinely healthy diet is refreshingly unglamorous: lots of vegetables and fruit, wholegrain carbs rather than refined ones, a decent source of protein such as fish, eggs, beans or meat, a little dairy or a fortified alternative, and small amounts of unsaturated fat. Sugary, salty and heavily processed foods are best kept as an occasional extra rather than a daily fixture.
The NHS "Eatwell Guide" offers a solid, evidence-based way to think about balancing these different food groups, and it's proven far more durable advice than most fashionable diets, many of which cut out whole food groups without much science to back it up.
See also our pages on dieting, nutrients and superfoods.
Common questions
What does a genuinely balanced diet consist of?
Generous amounts of vegetables and fruit, wholegrain carbohydrates, a source of protein, some dairy or a dairy alternative, and modest amounts of unsaturated fat, with sugary or highly processed food kept as an occasional treat.
Is the NHS Eatwell Guide a trustworthy source to follow?
Yes - it's a well-evidenced way to balance food groups, and holds up far better over time than most fad diets.