Health ministry outlines five key components of balanced meals

The Ministry of Health has outlined the essential components for a varied and balanced healthy meal.

In a post on X, the ministry stated that a healthy meal should include proteins from sources such as chicken, red meat, fish, eggs, and legumes like lentils, beans, and chickpeas, as well as fruits and vegetables.

The ministry added that a balanced meal should also feature a variety of vegetables, leafy greens, assorted fruits, dairy products and their alternatives, including milk, laban, yogurt, and cheese, in addition to grains and starches such as rice, pasta, bulgur, quinoa, oats, and starchy vegetables like potatoes and pumpkin. Fats and oils are also important components.

A healthy meal should further include plant-based sources like nuts, avocados, and vegetable oils such as olive oil, as well as animal-based sources like butter and ghee, which should be consumed in small and moderate amounts.