The Australian Dietary Guidelines

Question 1

Briefly describe the Australian dietary guidelines

Answer 1

Australian dietary guidelines are developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). They are a set of five general guidelines are intended to be used health professionals, educators, industries bodies and other parties interested in promoting healthy eating.

Question 2

Explain how the Australian dietary guidelines could promote healthy eating and health status

Answer 2

The guidelines could be followed by school canteens, making students choose healthy options for example vegetables, this can reduce morbidity/mortality rates of obesity, some cancers, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, therefore increasing life expectancy

Question 3

The Australian dietary guidelines 1 to 5

Answer 3

Guideline one –
physically active, energy balance

Guideline 2-
Variety of foods from the five food groups/plenty of water

Guideline three –
Limit saturated fat, added salt, sugar and alcohol

Guideline 4-
Encourage, support and promote breastfeeding

Guideline 5-
Care for your food; prepare and store it safely

Question 4

The Australian guide to healthy eating

Answer 4

The Australian guide to healthy eating is a food selection model design to visually represent dietary guidelines two and three. It is intended to be used by consumers to assist them in planning, selecting and consuming adequate proportions of food from the five food groups

Question 5

Out on the similarities and differences between the Australian dietary guidelines and the Australian guide to healthy eating

Answer 5

Similarities

• both provide nutrition advice to promote healthy eating
• Both refer to the five food groups
• both recommended consumption of water
• both recommend limiting discretionary foods

Differences

• Australian guide to healthy eating is visually appealing whereas the guidelines are more detailed
• The Australian guide to healthy eating provides only portions of each food group that should be consumed whereas the guidelines provide information on serving sizes

Question 6

Explain how the Australian dietary guidelines could assist in addressing CVD

Answer 6

Guideline 1 suggest be physically active. This can reduce the risk of weight gain which reduces the risk of CVD

Guideline 3 suggest a limit foods high in saturated fat, added salt, added sugar and alcohol. Fat sugar and alcohol at all energy dense, so reducing the intake can assist with weight management and reduce the risk of CVD