Promoting healthy eating in Australia

Initiatives to promote healthy eating

Australian dietary guidelines, Australian guide to healthy eating, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander guide to healthy eating

Considerations that can included when evaluating health eating initiatives

Acronym EASIER. Ease of understanding, Access, Sustainability, Inclusiveness, Effectiveness, Relevance

Australian dietary guidelines

They are aimed at all people in the general healthy population, including those with common diet-related risk factors such as being overweight, but not for those with serious medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, who require specialised dietary advice.

Guideline 1

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

Guideline 2

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from the following 5 groups everyday and drink plenty of water

Guideline 3

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

Guideline 4

Encourage, support and promote breastfeeding

Guideline 5

Care for your food; prepare and store it safely

Strengths of Australian Dietary guidelines

• Free to download

• Provide advice for people with different needs, such as people in different life span stages and people from different backgrounds

• Available in an accessible format

Limitations of Australian Dietary Guidelines

• 5 guidelines are written and may be hard for people with low literacy levels to understand

• Only available in English

• Based on the requirements of an average person, so serving sizes are not appropriate for all people

Australia Guide to Healthy Eating

A visual tool that reflects the recommended dietary advice detailed in ADG 2 and 3. It represents the proportion of the 5 food groups recommended for consumption each day.

Grain foods

• Should account for 30-35 percent of total daily food intake

• High in carbohydrates, which provide fuel for energy production

• High in fibre, which assists with weight management and maintenance of digestive health

Vegetables and legumes/beans

• Should account for around 30 percent of daily food intake

• Rich sources of carbohydrates, fibre, proteins and antioxidants which assist in promoting optimal health and wellbeing

Meat and meat alternatives

• Should account for around 15 percent of total daily food intake

• Provide protein required for maintenance of cells and tissues and the provision of energy

Fruit

• Should account for 10-12 percent of total daily food intake

• Contain high levels of carbohydrates, which can contribute to weight gain if not used as energy

Milk and other dairy products or alternatives

• Should account for 10-12 percent of total daily food intake

• Rich in calcium and are required for optimal bone health

Similarities between ADG and AGHE

• Aim to promote healthy eating in Australia

• Target the healthy Australian population including people suffering from common health conditions, such as obesity

• Not intended to be used by people who receive special dietary advice from a doctor or nutritionist

Differences between ADG and ADHE

• ADG provide detailed dietary advice, whereas the ADHE provides dietary advice that encapsulates the key messages of the guidelines making it easier to understand

• AGHE is visually engaging, it uses images and colours

• ADG provides advice about recommended daily number of serves of each food group that should be consumed whereas AGHE only provides advice about the proportions in which each food group should be consumed

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide to Healthy Eating

An adapted version of the ADHE. It reflects the main aspects of the AGHE, except it includes traditional foods such as kangaroo, goanna, crab meat, etc.

Strengths of AGHE

• Translated in more than 10 languages

• Applies to people of all ages

• A range of foods are included from different cultures

Limitations of AGHE

• Do not make provisions for composite foods

• Do not provide specific advice for people with

• Do not provide information on serving sizes