What's a Little or a Lot

Want to know how much is too much? The table below is a great and simple way of working out what your quotas should be of the good and the not-so-good.

Per 100g A lot A little
Sugar 15g = 3 Teaspoons
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 5g = 1 Teaspoon
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Fat 20g = 4 Teaspoons
4 Teaspoons		 3g = 0.6 Teaspoons
0.5 Teaspoons
Saturated fat 5g = 1.85 Teaspoons
tsp-1-2-5-blue.gif		 1.5g = 0.3 Teaspoons
tsp-0-2-5-blue.gif
Fibre 3g = 0.6 Teaspoons
0.5 Teaspoons		 0.5g = 0.1 Teaspoons
0.25 Teaspoons
Salt 1.5g = 0.3 Teaspoons
tsp-0-5-0-blue.gif		 0.3g = 0.06 Teaspoons
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Sodium 0.6g = 0.12 Teaspoons
0.25 Teaspoons		 0.1g = 0.02 Teaspoons
0.05 Teaspoons

Remember to check the food labels to help you make a healthier choice. Many of the big supermarkets and a number of food manufacturers are using the new front-of-pack labelling system, which uses the traffic light colours on the labels of some products to help you make your choice. For more information on the traffic light system, please see the FSA's guide here.

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Salt

Reducing the amount of salt you eat will help keep your blood pressure down. Most of the salt we eat comes from processed foods, so always check the labels. No more than 6g per day is what you should be sticking to. Always taste your food before adding salt, you just might not need it.

2 Teaspoons

Butter

Remember to keep a check on the amount of butter you use in your food and use it sparingly. Try spreading it thinly on bread or toast and only use a small knob of butter where a recipe requires it. A small knob equates to just two teaspoons. Swapping to a low-fat spread will also help to reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet.