Food list
Balanced
Overview

Alongside the core principles in our nutrition guidelines, your clinician will give you a personalised food list designed to meet your unique goals and needs. We offer different lists to support a range of objectives, so it’s important to stick to the one recommended for you. Others in your group may have their own tailored guidance, which could be different from yours.

This food list includes all the key nutrients your body needs - carbohydrates, proteins, and fats - without strict rules. It's about balance, variety and enjoying the right portion sizes. This makes it easier to stick with a healthy way of eating that supports your goals long-term. Here are some benefits of this balanced approach:

  • Helps keep blood sugar levels steady and supports how your body handles energy
  • Increases feelings of fullness and hunger, which helps with weight management
  • Encourages eating more fibre, which is great for keeping your gut and heart healthy
  • Reduces the chance of missing out on important nutrients by including a mix of different foods
  • Gives you more choice and flexibility when planning meals, so you can enjoy a range of flavours and foods

There isn't a one-size-fits-all plan; personal preferences and circumstances matter. Aim to create meals you enjoy that align with this food list and our guidelines. No food is off-limits, but some should be enjoyed in moderation to maintain balance and support metabolic health.

Use the list below, along with our Building a Balanced Plate guide, to create enjoyable meals from your own recipes or from Roczen's app recipes. For additional support or meal ideas, connect with your group mentor and fellow members.

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Food list
Key
Enjoy regularly
These are the foods we should incorporate regularly in our diets. They offer a wide range of health benefits and help us to meet our nutritional needs whilst achieving a calorie deficit for weight loss.
Moderation needed
These foods can be incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet, however, it’s important to do so in moderation and be mindful of how they can impact our health and weight if eaten in excess.
Avoid regular consumption
Try to avoid having these foods regularly. Whilst no food is ‘off-limits’, foods in this category can negatively impact our health and weight if we eat too much of them.
Proteins
These protein sources are great to include regularly in your meals. They are nutrient-dense and provide high-quality protein while being naturally lower in fats, making them supportive of your health goals.
These proteins can fit into a healthy, balanced diet, but it’s important to enjoy them in moderation. They often contain more fat and calories, so regular, large portions may affect your progress towards health and weight loss goals.
Try to limit how often you eat these protein sources. While no food is completely off-limits, these options are often highly processed and tend to be higher in fat and calories, which may not support your health and weight goals.
Food
Serving
Notes
Anchovies
Bacon (pork)
Beef brisket
Beef fillet steak
Beef mince (10% fat)
Beef mince (20% fat)
Beef mince (5% fat)
Beef ribeye steak
Beef rump steak
Beef sirloin steak
Chicken breast (skinless)
Chicken drumsticks (skinless)
Chicken goujons
Chicken nuggets
Chicken sausages (100% chicken)
Chicken thigh (skinless)
Cod
Duck (crispy duck, confit duck)
Duck breast (without skin)
Goat
Lamb cutlets
Lamb leg
Lamb mince (2% fat)
Lamb mince (5% fat)
Lamb shoulder
Lamb steak
Mackerel (fillet)
Mackerel (tinned)
Octopus/ Squid
Pork belly
Pork ribs
Pork sausage (100% pork)
Pork tenderloin
Prawns
Quorn
Rabbit
Salmon fillet
Recommend 2 portions of oily fish per week
Sardines (fresh)
Sardines (tinned in oil)
Sardines (tinned in spring water)
Recommend 2 portions of oily fish per week
Smoked salmon
Tempeh
Tofu
Tuna (canned in water or brine)
Tuna steak
Turkey bacon
Turkey breast/steak
Turkey mince (lean)
Turkey sausage (100% turkey meat)
Veal (cuts like cutlets and ground veal)
Venison (steak, saddle, haunch)
Carbohydrates
These carbohydrates provide slow-release energy, support digestive health, and help keep you feeling full, making it easier to manage weight and meet nutritional goals.
These carbohydrates can be part of a balanced diet, but it's best to consume them in moderation due to their higher carbohydrate content. Regular intake can have a negative impact on blood sugar levels and weight loss goals.
It’s best to avoid regular consumption of these carbohydrate options. While no food is completely off-limits, they can cause sharp spikes in blood sugar levels, which may negatively affect your energy, metabolic health, and weight management goals.
Food
Serving
Notes
Bagel (white)
Bagel (wholemeal)
Black bean pasta
Breadsticks
Brioche
Bulgar wheat
Butter beans
Cauliflower gnochhi
Chapati
Chickpea Pasta
Coco Pops
Corn Flakes
Couscous
Couscous (wholegrain)
Croissant
Edamame pasta
Farro
Fava beans
Focaccia
Freekeh
French fries
Frosties
Granary bread
Granola (<5g sugar per 100g)
Hash browns
Lavash
Lentil pasta
Millet
Muesli (<5g sugar per 100g)
Naan bread
New potatoes (boiled)
Oats (ground)
Oats (rolled oats, steel-cut oats)
Oven chips
Pasta (white)
e.g. spaghetti, rigatone, penne, fuesli
Pasta (wholemeal)
e.g. spaghetti, rigatone, penne, fuesli
Pearl barley
Pita bread (white)
Pita bread (wholemeal)
Plantain (boiled, steamed)
Potatoes (white, red, sweet)
Quinoa
Quinoa (red, black, white)
Rice (brown, wholegrain)
Rice (white)
Roti/ Chapati (white flour)
Rye bread
Shreddies
Sorghum
Sourdough bread
Sweet potatoes
Taro
Teff
Tortilla (corn)
Tortilla (flour)
Weetabix
White bread
Whole wheat bread
Wild Rice
Yorkshire pudding
Vegetables
These vegetables are rich in essential nutrients, high in fibre, and low in calories, making them perfect for regular consumption. They support overall health, aid digestion, and help with weight management. Aim to fill half your plate with these vegetables to create a balanced and satisfying meal.
These vegetables are still nutritious but contain more natural sugars or starch. Enjoy them in moderation to maintain a balanced diet without impacting your blood sugar levels or calorie goals.
These vegetables may be higher in starch or natural sugars, or their nutritional value might be affected by certain cooking methods. Save them for occasional consumption, as eating them frequently could impact your health and weight management goals.
Food
Serving
Notes
Artichokes
Asparagus
Aubergine
Avocados
1/2 avocado
Beetroot
80g
Bitter Melon
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Butternut squash
80g
Cabbage (all types)
Carrots
1-2 carrots
Roasting and baking will increase sugar content
Cassava
80g
Cauliflower
Cavolo nero
Celeriac
Celery
Chicory
Collard greens
Courgette
Cucumber
Curly kale
Endive (e.g. Frisée)
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger (fresh)
Kale
Kimchi (fermented foods for variety)
Can be high in salt
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce (all varieties)
Mushrooms
Okra
Onions (yellow, red, green)
Parsnips
80g
Roasting and baking will increase sugar content
Peppers
Pumpkin
80g
Roasting and baking will increase sugar content
Radicchio
Radishes
Rocket
Sauerkraut
Can be high in salt
Spinach
Spring onion
Sunchoke
Sweetcorn
80g
Swiss chard
Taro Leaves
Tomatoes
Roasting and baking will increase sugar content
Turnip
80g
Roasting and baking will increase sugar content
Watercress
Yam
80g
Fruits
These fruits have a more favourable effect on our blood sugar levels. They can be enjoyed frequently as part of a balanced diet; however, aim to consume alongside fats and proteins, such as yoghurt, nuts, and seeds.
These fruits have a moderate sugar content, which means they can raise blood sugar levels more quickly. Enjoy them in moderation and pair them with fats or proteins, like nuts or yoghurt, to help balance their impact. Be mindful of portion sizes, as eating too much may affect blood sugar and calorie intake.
These fruits contain more natural sugars or are commonly processed, such as dried fruits, fruit juices, or syrups. Limit them to special occasions or enjoy them as occasional treats to better support your health and weight management goals.
Food
Serving
Notes
Acai
Apples
1 apple
Apricots
1 apricot
Bananas
1 banana
Avoid over ripened bananas due to higher sugar content
Blackberries
80g
Blackcurrants
Blueberries
80g
Cherries
80g
Cranberries (dried)
Cranberries (fresh)
80g
Dates
Dragon Fruit (Pitaya)
Goji
Gooseberries
Grapefruit
1/2 grapefruit
Grapes (red, green)
80g
Guava
80g
Jackfruit
80g
Kiwi
1 kiwi
Lemons
Limes
Loquat
Lychee
Mandarins
Mango
80g
Melon
80g
Nectarines
1 nectarine
Oranges
1/2 orange
Papaya
80g
Passion fruit
80g
Peaches
80g
Pears
1 pear
Pineapple
2 rings (80g)
Plums
1-2 plums
Pomegranate
80g
Pomelo
Quince
Raisins
Raspberries
80g
Strawberries
80g
Tangerines
1 tangerine
Tinned fruit (in fruit juice or syrup)
Watermelon
1-2 slice (80g)
Fats & oils
These fats are beneficial for heart health, brain function, and keeping you feeling full. Include them in moderate portions and pay attention to how they’re used, such as whether they’re best for cooking or cold dishes.
These fats should be enjoyed in moderation because they contain a mix of unsaturated and saturated fats. Consuming them in large amounts or too often may negatively affect heart health and your overall goals.
These fats are best reserved for special occasions. Regular consumption can affect your health goals and may not support heart health or weight management because of their higher calorie content and nutritional profile.
Food
Serving
Notes
Butter (unsalted)
Cashew butter
Ghee (clarified butter)
Olive oil (extra virgin)
Best for sautéing and dressings
Rapeseed oil
Best for baking and frying
Sesame oil
Best for stir-frying, sauces
Sunflower oil
Best for: frying, baking
Dairy & alternatives
These options are okay to include regularly, providing essential nutrients like calcium and protein, supporting bone health and satiety, which can aid in weight management.
These can be part of a balanced diet, but enjoy them in moderation. Consuming too much may impact calorie intake, so be mindful of portions.
Limit these choices to occasional consumption. While no option is completely off-limits, frequent use of these can add extra calories and may not align with your health and weight goals.
Food
Serving
Notes
Almond milk (unsweetened)
Camembert
Cashew milk (unsweetened)
Cheddar cheese
Coconut milk (unsweetened)
Cottage cheese (full-fat)
Cottage cheese (reduced-fat)
Cream cheese (full fat)
Cream cheese (light)
Dairy-free cheese (e.g. coconut oil-based)
Fage yoghurt (0% fat)
Fage yoghurt (5% fat)
Feta cheese
Feta cheese (reduced-fat)
Goats cheese
Greek yogurt (0% fat)
Greek yogurt (10% fat)
Greek yogurt (2% fat)
Greek yogurt (5% fat)
Haloumi
Kefir
Kefir yoghurt
Milk (semi-skimmed)
Milk (skimmed)
Milk (whole/full-fat)
Mozzarella (full-fat)
Mozzarella (reduced-fat)
Oat milk (sweetened)
Oat milk (unsweetened)
Quark
Quark (0% fat)
Red leicester cheese
Rice milk
Skyr yoghurt
Soya milk (sweetened)
Soya milk (unsweetened)
Stilton
Nuts, seeds & legumes
These nuts, seeds, and legumes provide essential nutrients like fibre, protein, and healthy fats. They can be included regularly in your diet as they support satiety, heart health, and overall nutrition.
These options are packed with nutrients but are also calorie-dense. Enjoy them in moderation and stick to smaller portions a few times a week to maintain a balanced diet without affecting your weight management goals.
Some nuts, seeds, and legume products (e.g. heavily salted, roasted with added oils, or sweetened varieties) should be limited.  Save these for special occasions or when other options aren’t available, as frequent consumption may hinder your health and weight goals.
Food
Serving
Notes
Adzuki beans
Almond butter
1 tbsp
Almonds
28g (small handful)
Black beans
Black sesame seeds (distinct from white)
Brazil nuts
28g (small handful)
Broad beans
Cannelini beans
Cashews
28g (small handful)
Chestnuts
Chia seeds
1-2 tbsp (15-30g)
Chickpeas
Edamame
Flaxseeds
1-2 tbsp (15-30g)
Green beans
Green peas
Hazelnuts
28g (small handful)
Hemp seeds
1-2 tbsp (15-30g)
Lentils
Macadamia nuts
Peanut butter (natural)
1 tbsp
Peanuts (unsalted)
28g (small handful)
Peas
Pecans
28g (small handful)
Pine nuts
28g (small handful)
Pistachios (kernels)
28g (small handful)
Poppy seeds
1-2 tbsp (15-30g)
Pumpkin seeds
1-2 tbsp (15-30g)
Sesame seeds
1-2 tbsp (15-30g)
Sunflower seeds
1-2 tbsp (15-30g)
Walnuts
28g (small handful)
Herbs, spices & condiments
Herbs and spices are low in calories and high in flavour, making them great for regular use to enhance meals without added salt or sugar.
Some condiments, like mustard or vinegar-based dressings, can be enjoyed occasionally. They're generally fine in moderation but may contain added sugars or salt.
These condiments may be high in salt, sugar, or added fats. Use sparingly to avoid the potential negative impact they can have on metabolic and digestive health.
Food
Serving
Notes
Allspice
Amaranth
Anise seeds
Apple cider vinegar
Asafoetida
BBQ sauce
Balsamic vinegar
Basil
Basil (dried)
Bay leaves
Capers
Cardamom
Cayenne pepper
Celery seeds
Chili powder
Cinnamon
Cloves
Coriander
Coriander
Cumin
Curry powder
Dijon mustard
High in salt
Dill
Fennel seeds
Fenugreek
Fenugreek leaves
Fish sauce
High in salt
Galangal (often used in Southeast Asian cuisine)
Garlic powder
High in salt
Ginger (ground)
Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
Harissa paste
High in salt
Herb blends (like herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning)
Hoisin sauce
Hot sauce
Use sparingly
Lemon juice
Lemongrass
Mayonaise
Use sparingly
Mayonaise (light)
Use sparingly
Mint
Miso paste
High in salt
Mustard
High in salt
Mustard seeds
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Peppercorns (black, white, pink, green)
Red pepper flakes
Rice vinegar
Rosemary
Saffron
Sage
Salad cream
Smoked paprika
Soy sauce (low salt)
Sriracha
Star anise
Sumac
Tahini
Tamari
High in salt
Tamarind
High in sugar
Tarragon
Thyme
Tomato ketchup (low sugar)
Tomato kethup
Turmeric
Worcestershire sauce
Snacks & miscellaneous
These are nutrient-dense foods that support energy levels and can be enjoyed often as part of a balanced diet.
These snacks and foods can fit into a balanced diet but should be eaten in moderation to manage calorie intake and added sugars.
These foods are typically highly processed and high in added sugars, salts, or unhealthy fats. Reserve them for special occasions, as frequent consumption can negatively impact health and weight goals.
Food
Serving
Notes
Baked crisps
Cereal bars
Coconut water (unsweetened)
Corn (salted or flavoured)
Crackers
Crumpets
Digestive biscuits
Doughnut
Granola bars
Hot cross bun
Hummus (unflavoured)
Jaffa cakes
Lentil crisps
Muffins
Pizza
Popcorn (low calorie)
Potato crisps
Rice cakes (plain)
Ryvita
Scone
Seaweed (e.g. nori, wakame)
High in salt