Eating well: general guidelines
This information has been reviewed by:
Dr Michael Jefford, Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Vivian Kong, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute
Brooke Chapman, Dietitian, APD, Austin Health
Eating well means having a variety of foods every day from each of the food groups.
Dietary guidelines for Australian adults, from the National Health and Medical Research Council, provide general advice on healthy eating to remain well.
Dietary guidelines for Australian adults
- Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods.
- Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes (e.g. soy and other beans) 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. Choose reduced-fat varieties where possible.
- Drink plenty of water.
And take care to:
- Limit saturated fat (found in meat, dairy and some vegetable oils) 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.
It is also important to:
- Prevent weight gain: be physically active and eat according to your energy needs.
- Care for your food: prepare and store it safely.
- Encourage and support breastfeeding.
See also our healthy eating guidelines for full details of how many serves of vegetables, fruit, cereals, meat and dairy you should be including in a balanced diet (and what comprises 'a serve' of each).
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