It’s a common misconception that most people eat too many carbohydrates. In fact, it’s recommended that around 50% of our daily calories should come from carbohydrates*, although they should mainly be the starchy type and preferably foods that contain fibre as well.
At the moment, most of us eat slightly less than that – with around 46% of our calories coming from carbs. So, while shifting away from sugary foods and drinks is important, cutting down on the amount of starchy carbs we eat isn’t usually necessary.
The latest government advice is that we should base each meal on a starchy food, such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates such as breakfast cereals. It’s best to choose wholegrain varieties or those that are a good source of fibre over the types made from refined white grains. Fortified cereals can make an important contribution to our intake of B vitamins, vitamin D and iron, especially for women, children and adolescents.