What foods make up a healthy diet?

It is important that you eat a balanced diet by eating foods from all the different food groups each day. A range of nutritious foods is important not only to ensure you get full spectrum of vitamins and minerals each day, but also to prevent too much of any foods that may be harmful to your health.  

The guidelines suggest you should aim to eat at least 20 different foods each day. By increasing the range of foods each day, you are: 

• Achieving a nutritionally adequate diet which promotes good health
• Lessening the likelihood of eating excessive amounts of any one food
• Avoiding possible deficiencies of specific nutrients and eliminating the need for vitamin and mineral supplementation

To help you choose foods for a healthy life the Australian Dietary Guidelines have been written. They are:

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods

• Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruits.
• Eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain.
• Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives.
• Include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives. Reduced-fat varieties should be chosen, where possible.
• Drink plenty of water.  

and take care to

• Limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake.
• Choose foods low in salt.
• Limit your alcohol intake if you choose to drink.
• Consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars.

For more information the full dietary guidelines are available online at: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/_files/n33.pdf