Australian Dietary Guidelines

The Australian Dietary Guidelines provide up-to-date advice about the amount and kinds of food we need to eat for good health. These guidelines are based on scientific evidence, developed after looking at good quality research. (1)

These guidelines recommend that all Australians:

1. To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and choose amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet your energy needs

2. Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups every day

3. Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol

4. Encourage, support and promote breastfeeding

5. Care for your food; prepare and store it safely

Visit www.eatforhealth.gov.au for more information. 

National Health and Medical Research Council (2013). Australian Dietary Guidelines. Retrieved from: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines (1).

The Five Food groups

The Australian Dietary Guideline #2 recommends all Australians to enjoy a wide variety of nutritious food every day, from the five food groups.

The Five Food Groups make up the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, and are summarised below.

• Fruit

• Vegetables

• 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 alternatives (2).

In 2018, poor diet was linked to 5.4% of the total burden of disease in Australia. Poor diet is also linked with higher rates of the following chronic disease:

• Heart disease

• Stroke

• Type 2 diabetes

• Some types of cancer (e.g. bowel, lung, oesophageal, and breast)

• Kidney disease, and more (3).

Eating a wide range of healthy, and nutritious foods helps us get the nutrients we need for good health. A healthy, balanced diet helps us to feel good, maintain a healthy weight, protects our health, and can reduce our risk of these chronic diseases.

National Health and Medical Research Council (2017). Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Retrieved from: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-guide-healthy-eating (2) 

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2018). Australian Burden of Disease Study 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/abds-2018-interactive-data-risk-factors/contents/dietary-risk-factors (3). 

Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

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Healthy Eating Resources

Check out the websites below for advice on healthy eating, recipes, cooking and more!

• LiveLighter - a public health education campaign, aiming to help people eat well, be physically active, and avoid excess weight gain.

• Eat for Health - provides up-to-date, evidence based national healthy eating guidelines, and recommendations.

• Crunch & Sip - a primary school program, developed to increase the amount of vegetables, fruits, and water being consumed by Western Australian Children. 

• Foodbank WA - supports Western Australians by providing access to good quality food through food relief.

• Diabetes WA - informs, educates, and supports Western Australians to better manage their diabetes. 

• Heart Foundation - work to improve heart disease prevention, detection, and support for all Australians.