Most Recent Dietary Guidelines For Australia

What Are The Most Recent Dietary Guidelines For Australia?

The Australian Dietary Guidelines are the cornerstone for healthy eating in Australia. They provide evidence-based information on the types and amounts of foods, food groups and dietary patterns that aim to promote health and wellbeing, reduce the risk of diet-related conditions and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The latest Dietary Guidelines were released in February 2019, and they are the 5th edition. The guidelines provide a healthy eating pattern that can be tailored to individual needs, and they are based on the best available scientific evidence.

The main messages of the guidelines are:

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups every day.
Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugar and alcohol.
Be active and sit less every day.
Encourage and support breastfeeding.

What Are The Five Food Groups?

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend consuming a variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups every day. The five food groups are:

Vegetables and legumes/beans.
Fruit.
Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties.
Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans.
Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or their alternatives, mostly reduced fat.

The amount of food from each food group recommended by the Australian Dietary Guidelines depends on age, gender and activity levels. It is important to choose a variety of foods from each food group to get a range of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

What Foods Should I Limit?

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting foods and drinks that are high in saturated fat, added salt, added sugar and alcohol. This includes:

Processed meats.
Salty snacks and confectionery.
Sugary drinks.
Cakes, biscuits, pastries and desserts.
Alcoholic drinks.

It is important to limit these types of foods and drinks as they can increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

What Other Dietary Advice Is Given By The Guidelines?

The Australian Dietary Guidelines also recommend:

Eating a minimum of two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables per day.
Limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10% of total energy intake.
Limiting added salt intake to less than 5g per day.
Limiting added sugar intake to less than 10% of total energy intake.
Limiting alcohol intake to no more than two standard drinks per day.
Being physically active and limiting sedentary behaviour.
Encouraging and supporting breastfeeding.

These guidelines provide evidence-based advice on how to achieve a balanced eating pattern and good nutrition.

What Do The Dietary Guidelines Mean For Me?

The Australian Dietary Guidelines are designed to provide evidence-based advice on healthy eating for all Australians. They provide a basis for healthy eating that can be tailored to individual needs. The guidelines emphasise the importance of consuming a variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups, and limiting foods and drinks that are high in saturated fat, added salt, added sugar and alcohol. They also provide advice on physical activity and encourage breastfeeding.

Following the Australian Dietary Guidelines can help to promote health and wellbeing, reduce the risk of diet-related conditions and reduce the risk of chronic disease.