Foods for Health

Dietary Guidelines

Dietary guidelines provide up-to-date advice about the amounts and kinds of foods that we need to eat for health and wellbeing. The recommendations are based on scientific evidence, developed after looking at good quality research.

By following the dietary patterns recommended in the guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, we will get enough of the nutrients essential for good health and also help reduce our risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and obesity. We may also feel better, look better, enjoy life more and live longer!

Our dietary patterns are made up of foods and drinks, not simply nutrients – it’s the types and amounts of the foods and drinks that we consume regularly that really matter for our health.

However, there are many different ways to include foods to produce dietary patterns that suit different cultural, economic, social and culinary preferences, that deliver health benefits.

Click here to see the summary of the Australian Dietary Guidelines

Healthy Eating – The Western Situation

Most people need more:

• Vegetables and fruit, particularly green, orange and red vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, capsicum and sweet potatoes, and leafy vegetables like spinach, and legumes/beans like lentils
• Grain (cereal) foods, particularly wholegrain cereals like wholemeal breads, wholegrain/high fibre breakfast cereals, oats, wholegrain rice and pasta
• Reduced fat milk, yoghurt and cheese varieties (reduced fat milks are not suitable for children under the age of 2 years as a main milk drink)
• Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans (except many Australian men would benefit from eating less red meat)
• Water instead of soft drinks, cordials, energy drinks, sports drinks and sweetened fruit juices and/or alcoholic drinks.

Most people need to eat less:

• Meat pies, sausage rolls and fried hot chips
• Potato crisps, savoury snacks, biscuits and crackers
• Processed meats like salami, bacon and sausages
• Cakes, muffins, sweet biscuits and muesli bars
• Confectionary (lollies) and chocolate
• Ice-cream and desserts
• Cream and butter
• Jam and honey
• Soft drinks, cordial, energy drinks and sports drinks
• Wine, beer and spirits.

Healthy Eating – Thoughts

How do you rate your eating in comparison to the Western situation? What are the eating trends in your country?