3 How much should you drink?
Current guidelines in the Eatwell Guide are six to eight glasses of fluid daily. This equates to 2000 ml for men and 1600 ml for women from drinks alone. This includes children 14 years old and above. Don’t forget that 20–30% of your fluid intake is from food.
Figure 3 shows some average amounts in different containers.
What are the average measures for the containers you use? Make a note as this will help you monitor how much you drink throughout the day.
Activity 3 Daily intake
Keep a two-day diary, so that you can average what your daily intake is.
Are there particular times you tend to drink more or less? Do you drink with food?
Click ‘Save’ when you are satisfied with what you have written.
Is it thirst or habit that makes you drink?
Click ‘Save’ when you are satisfied with what you have written.
What is your style of drinking – gulping or sipping?
Click ‘Save’ when you are satisfied with what you have written.
Is it enough?
Click ‘Save’ when you are satisfied with what you have written.
What colour is your urine related to how much you drink?
Click ‘Save’ when you are satisfied with what you have written.
You will look at the types of drinks later, so just consider how much you are drinking for now.