Do you enjoy eating biltong? How about a sizzling burger? Don’t forget fish-fingers, ham, chicken, eggs, soya mince - and even baked beans! These are all members of the meat and meat alternatives family.

This food group gives your body protein, which is the nutrients that your body uses to build and repair muscle. This food family also gives your body iron as well other vitamins and minerals. Iron is a mineral that keeps your blood healthy.

Your ring finger represents the meat and meat alternatives family. You need to eat two servings of meat or meat alternatives in a day. To read more about how much you need to eat from this group...click here on serving sizes.

What did you pack in your snack box today? Was there food from the meat and meat alternatives group? If not, have some biltong or ham at break time, why not add sausage or an egg to your lunch? If you did have some meat and meat alternatives in your lunch – you can proudly say “I eat a healthy balanced diet!”

Remember, each day you need 3 servings of dairy, 5 servings of vegetables and fruit, 6 - 8 servings of starch, 2 - 3 portions of meat and meat alternatives, and only a little bit of fats and sugars.