Here's how to bulk up with food you'll love and make sure you're getting your micros.

Not Just Chicken, Rice & Broccoli!

You don’t need endless chicken and broccoli to build muscle. Protein is key, but so are vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc. These support energy, recovery, and hormone balance — and help turn training into visible progress.

Muscle Gain

Build strength and lean muscle with food you actually enjoy

The essential building block for strength, energy, and focus

Protein is your body's master repair kit. It provides the essential materials to build and maintain everything from 
        muscle to brain cells, helping you feel strong and think clearly. Including a good source of protein with your meals is also a great way 
        to feel full and satisfied for longer, which helps keep your energy steady throughout the day. 
        Spreading your intake across breakfast, lunch, and dinner helps your body make the most of it.

Protein

Although the minimum protein RDA for the general population is 0.8 g/kg/day, protein intakes in the range 1.2-1.6 g/kg/day are a more ideal target for optimising health outcomes.

Protein intakes beyond 1.62 g/kg/day result in no further gains in lean muscle.

Chicken

Lentils

Tofu

Yogurt

Vital fuel for brain health, hormone balance, and absorbing key vitamins

Healthy fats are essential fuel for your body and brain. They help you absorb key vitamins and play a vital role in keeping your systems in harmony.
         The key is to focus on getting more unsaturated fats from whole and non-processed food — the kind found in avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. These are the fats that truly nourish your body, 
        helping to support long-term heart health and keep you feeling your best.

Healthy Fats

A simple switch from saturated to unsaturated fats is a powerful way to help lower cholesterol and support a healthy heart.

Unsaturated fats are considered 'good fats', saturated fats are considered 'bad fats, trans fats are the 'worst' dietary fat.

Strong evidence shows that replacing saturated fats with healthier unsaturated fats can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Almonds

Avocado

Chia seeds

Olive oil

Salmon

The foundation for a happy gut, stable energy, and long-term heart health

Fibre is the unsung hero of nutrition. Think of it as the ultimate caretaker for your digestive system -
            it helps keep everything running smoothly and nourishes the good bacteria in your gut, which is essential for overall wellness. 
            A fibre-rich intake helps you feel full for longer, keeps your energy levels stable, and plays a key role in supporting long-term heart health.

Fibre

The British Nutrition Foundation explains the UK's 30g daily goal for digestive wellness and long-term health, offering practical tips to help you increase your intake.

There is a 10% reduction in all-cause mortality for each 10g/day increase in fibre intake

Most US adults only get half the fiber they need, but it can lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Oats

Pear

Wholemeal bread

Your daily dose of nutrients for better energy, gut health, and mood

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is one of the best things you can do for your body.
             They're packed with essential fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants that work together to support your overall wellbeing. This powerful combination helps nourish your gut (which has a real impact on your mood), helps you feel more energised, and keeps your body's systems in balance.

Fruit & Veg

The NHS recommends five daily portions of fruit and veg to help you get the essential fibre, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to thrive.

The World Health Organization suggests consuming a minimum of 400g (five portions) of fruit and vegetables daily to lower the risk of chronic disease.

US guidelines promote 1.5-2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables per day as part of a healthy diet - only 1 in 10 US adults meet this target.

Apple

Broccoli

Carrot

Orange

Spinach

Essential for oxygen transport and maintaining energy

Iron's most critical role is building haemoglobin, the protein in your red blood cells that acts like a transport system, carrying oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body. This oxygen delivery is fundamental to your body’s energy production and overall vitality.

        There are two forms of iron in our diet. Heme iron, found in animal products like red meat, is easily absorbed. Non-heme iron, found in plant-based sources like beans, nuts, and leafy greens, is also valuable, and its absorption can be boosted by pairing it with a source of Vitamin C.
        
        Because of menstrual blood loss, the iron needs for pre-menopausal women are significantly higher than for men. This is why being mindful of regular iron-rich sources in the diet is particularly important for this group.

Iron

Learn about iron's key role in your health, the best food sources, and the daily amount to aim for.

The NIH provides specific iron RDAs for different life stages.

WHO warns that iron deficiency anaemia is widespread and encourages iron‑rich diets and fortification to prevent deficiency.

Liver

Red meat

Supports sleep, mood and energy metabolism

Magnesium is one of the body’s busiest minerals, acting as a crucial helper in over 300 biochemical reactions. This vital activity is essential for converting food into energy, supporting the smooth communication between your nerves and muscles, and helping to maintain strong, healthy bones.

        Because it plays a role in so many fundamental processes, the most effective way to ensure you're getting enough is through a consistently varied diet.

Magnesium

Learn about magnesium's key role in your health, the best food sources, and the daily amount to aim for.

The NIH provides specific magnesium RDAs for different life stages.

Black beans

Pumpkin seeds

A key mineral for a strong immune system and your body's natural repair process

Zinc is a fundamental mineral involved in the work of over 300 enzymes in your body. This vast range of activity is essential for supporting a robust immune system, healing wounds, and even maintaining your senses of taste and smell.

        While zinc is present in many foods, how your body absorbs it can differ. Animal sources like meat and shellfish provide zinc that is easily used by the body. Plant-based sources like legumes, nuts, and seeds are also excellent, but their zinc can be slightly less available for absorption due to naturally occurring compounds in the plants.

Zinc

Learn about zinc's key role in your health, the best food sources, and the daily amount to aim for.

The NIH provides specific zinc RDAs for different life stages.

Beef

Cashews

Cheese

Enhances muscle energy, strength and cognition

Creatine is a natural compound that serves as a rapid-access energy source for your muscles and brain. It helps your cells quickly regenerate ATP, often called the body's "energy currency," which is crucial for short, intense bursts of effort like lifting weights or sprinting.

        While your body produces a small amount of creatine and you get some from meat and fish, these sources are often not enough to maximise its performance benefits. A consistent supplemental dose is the most researched and effective strategy for increasing muscle strength, power, and supporting cognitive performance.
        
        A simple and effective approach is to take a consistent daily dose. Contrary to older advice, a "loading phase" with high initial doses is not necessary to achieve the full benefits over time.

Creatine

Creatine supplementation enhanced measures of memory performance in healthy individuals, especially in older adults (66–76 years)

Individuals should consume about 3g/day of creatine in their diet particularly as one ages

Herring

Pork

Tuna

The sunshine vitamin for healthy bones, teeth and muscles

Often called the 'sunshine vitamin', Vitamin D is unique because your body creates it from sunlight. 
        It's essential for guiding calcium to where it's needed most, helping to keep your bones and muscles strong and healthy.

        During the darker autumn and winter months, or if you don't get much time outdoors, it can be tricky to get enough. That's when turning to food sources like oily fish, eggs, and fortified foods becomes a great way to top up your levels. For many, a simple daily supplement during these months is also a wise choice.

Vitamin D

Learn about vitamin D's key role in your health, the best food sources, and the daily amount to aim for.