5 food myths busted

Can you guess if these are fact or fiction?

1. Vegetarian diets are healthier

Fiction

Vegetarian diets can be very healthy, but if your vegetarian diet means chips and cheese sandwiches, then that's a different matter!
If you want to stop eating meat and fish, it's really important you make sure you include other foods that will give you the protein and vitamins and minerals, such as iron and zinc, that you would normally get from meat.

To find out more about how to choose a healthy balanced vegetarian diet, click here to check out the veggie section on this site.

2. Dairy products make you fat

Fiction

Eating more than our bodies need means we put on weight. So to keep a healthy weight it�s important to follow a balanced diet and keep physically active.

The fat content of dairy products varies a lot, and much of this fat is saturated fat, which can raise cholesterol and is linked to heart disease.
So although eating dairy products won't make you fat, some are high in saturated fat and so you should only eat small amounts, or eat them less often. Or you could choose reduced-fat versions instead.

Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt are a really important part of a healthy balanced diet because they are great sources of protein and vitamins A, B₁₂ and D.

They're also an important source of calcium, which helps to keep our bones strong. This is important for everyone but if you're into sport you'll already know how crucial this is.
The calcium in dairy foods is easy for the body to absorb. Cutting out dairy products can be bad for your health because you could be missing out on these nutrients.

Go for semi-skimmed or skimmed milk and low-fat yoghurts or fromage frais. These contain at least the same amount of protein, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc as full-fat versions. They just contain less saturated fat.

Click here to find out more about dairy foods.

3. If you take a vitamin suppliment in the morning you don't need to worry about what you eat the rest of the day

Fiction

Although vitamin supplements may provide all the vitamins you need each day, there are lots of other important nutrients they don't provide.

So it's still important to choose a healthy balanced diet. Remember, vitamin supplements are no substitute for a healthy diet.

4. Diet drinks don't damage your teeth

Fiction

Even diet drinks can damage your teeth, if you drink too many of them.

They are often acidic, and this means they can damage the enamel that protects our teeth. Water (tap or bottled, fizzy or still) or milk are the best things to drink if you want to look after your teeth.
If you decide to drink diet drinks, do your teeth a favour and stick to mealtimes.

'Diet' versions of fizzy drinks also contain very few nutrients, so milk or water are much healthier choices.

5. Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight

Fiction

Skipping meals is not a good way to lose weight.
Eating three small meals a day and a couple of healthy snacks (such as a piece of fruit, a low-fat yoghurt or a bowl of cereal) in between, is a much better way to control your calories.

And getting active is the best way to make sure you burn off as much as you take in.