At the beginning of a new year, lots of people take up diets, gym regimes and health-related new year resolutions in a bid for a "new year, new me".

Dieting lifestyles such as veganism and vegetarianism have been on the rise with young and older people adopting new ways of eating and living for multiple benefits.

Some diets, however, can be more of a "fad" - a passing phase or trend - that people are lured into trying to cut down weight in shorter amounts of time regardless of how safe an option this is, or whether it will maintain your goals in the long haul.

NHS England outline a sensible and health-safe diet that people can partake in to change their way of life.

5 A Day

The NHS recommend that everyone eats a balanced diet and this includes the general rule of five a day. This means eating five fruit or vegetables in a 24-hour period.

The NHS say: "Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals and fibre, and should make up just over a third of the food you eat each day."

Your five portions can be frozen, fresh, canned, dried or juiced.

The benefits of this eating skill includes having a lower risk of heart disease, strokes and certain cancers.

One portion might look like 80g of frozen, fresh or canned fruit or vegetables, 30g of dried fruit consumed at mealtimes, three heaped tablespoons of vegetables, and a 150ml glass of fruit juice or a smoothie.

Balanced proportions

To get that healthy body weight, the NHS suggests eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions of the right kinds of food and drink.

Starchy food should make up just over a third of the food that we eat as they provide us with energy. The NHS recommend choosing higher fibre and wholewheat substances such as wholewheat pasta and brown rice, or simple things like leaving skins on potatoes.

Milk, cheese and dairy foods act as a good source of protein and calcium which are needed to keep our bones healthy. The NHS recommend going for products lower in fat and sugar where possible, including 1 per cent fat milk, reduced fat cheese or low-fat and plain yoghurt.

Beans, fish, eggs and meat make up the protein section of the balanced diet on the healthy eating that the NHS recommend. These foods will also provide you with vitamins and minerals whilst beans, peas and lentils will act as good alternatives to meat being lower in fat, higher in protein and fibre.

It is always recommended to eat less red and processed meat and choose lean meat or mince.

Matters were complicated when I was offered well over 100 grilled meat mills by Hotplate Grillhouse, a Zimbabwean restaurant to distribute to my followers
Matters were complicated when I was offered well over 100 grilled meat mills by Hotplate Grillhouse, a Zimbabwean restaurant to distribute to my followers

NHS Better Health apps

You can download the NHS Weight Loss Plan and follow a 12 week diet and exercise plan personalised to you.

Alongside this for the Better Health campaign, the NHS offer an Easy Meals app, Active 10 Walking Tracker, and Couch to 5k apps that will assist in any fitness and health goals you wish to achieve.

The Weight Loss Plan is specific for dieting as your BMI is calculated from your height and weight so that your starting weight can be noted as the app keeps track of your changes throughout the 12 week plan. This includes waist measurements as your 12 week weight goal stays in sight.

The app will calculate how many calories will be "today's target". Similarly to MyFitnessPal, you can log in breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks to see how many remaining calories you have for the day in order to hit your calorie target and ensure you do not under eat as well as overeat. Along your journey, you will earn badges such as "flying start" which act to motivate you in the process along with the weekly changing guides such as week three's "Healthy new habits".

Unsaturated fats and oils

Unsaturated fats are the best kind of fats.

These "healthier fats" include vegetable, rapeseed, sunflower and olive oils.

However, the NHS also state that all fats are high in energy and so should be eaten sparingly. Foods that contain high fats include chocolates, cakes, biscuits, sugary soft drinks, butter and ice cream.

These kind of foods are not needed in our diets so should be eaten less and in smaller amounts, whereas unsaturated fats are better for us.

To lower your intake of sugar and such high fats, you can take easy recommended steps such as switching to lower-sugar cereals in the morning, grazing on unsalted nuts, making homemade plain popcorn and avoiding sugary and fizzy drinks.