How We Use the Australian Eating Pyramid to Make Healthy Food Choices?

The Australian Eating Pyramid is a tool used to promote healthy eating habits and is tailored to the Australian population. It was first developed in 2003 by the Department of Health and Ageing and has since been updated several times. The pyramid shows the proportions of different food groups that should be included in a healthy diet.

The pyramid is divided into five main sections: grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy foods and lean meats and alternatives. Each section has different recommendations based on age, gender and activity level. For example, people who are more active may need to consume more grains than those who are less active.

Grains are an important part of a balanced diet as they provide essential carbohydrates for energy, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre which helps maintain gut health. A variety of grain foods should be consumed such as breads, cereals, rice, pasta and noodles.

Vegetables are also an important part of a balanced diet as they provide essential vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. A variety of vegetables should be eaten daily including dark green leafy vegetables as well as legumes such as beans and lentils.

Fruits are a great source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre which helps to maintain gut health. Different types of fruits should be consumed daily including fresh fruits and vegetables or canned fruits in natural juice or water with no added sugar or sweeteners.

Dairy foods provide essential calcium for strong bones and teeth as well as protein which helps maintain muscle mass. Dairy products include milk, yoghurt, cheese and fortified soy drink with added calcium or vitamin D where required.

Lean meats and alternatives provide essential protein for growth, repair of cells and maintenance of body tissues. Lean meats include chicken without skin or fat removed after cooking; fish; beef; lamb; pork; eggs; nuts; seeds; legumes such as beans, chickpeas or lentils; tofu or tempeh (fermented soybean products) with reduced fat content where possible.

The Australian Eating Pyramid can help us make better food choices by providing us with recommendations on what types of food we should be eating in what proportions across our meals each day.

Conclusion:

The Australian Eating Pyramid is a useful tool for making healthy food choices by providing us with information about the proportions that different food groups should make up within our diets depending on age, gender and activity levels.