FOOD GUIDES
Canada
USA
Greece
Mexico
Argentina
Cuba
Japan
Australia
Turkey
Finland
Germany
France
National Nutrition Guide for Greek Adults
The Greek dietary guidelines were developed in 1999 and updated in 2014.
The food pyramid is divided into food groups classified under three levels of consumption: daily consumption (wholegrain cereals and products, fruits, vegetables, olive oil and dairy products), weekly (fish, poultry, olives, pulses, nuts, potatoes, eggs and sweets) and monthly (red meat).
Main messages:
Consume a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.
Consume a variety of cereals every day. Prefer whole grain products.
Prefer low-fat dairy products.
Canada's food guide / Le guide alimentaire canadien
Canada's first food guide, the Official Food Rules, was published in July 1942. Since 1942, the food guide has been revised many times, most recently in 2019.
Water as a drink of choice, Eat protein foods, Have plenty of vegetables and fruits, Choose whole grain foods.
Recommendations:
- Be mindful of your eating habits
- Cook more often
- Enjoy your food
- Eat meals with others
- Take time to eat
- Notice when you are hungry and when you are full
Plan what you eat
2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The United States published the 8th edition of its Dietary Guidelines for Americans in January 2016.
They identify daily amounts of foods, in nutrient-dense forms, to eat from five major food groups and their subgroups. The patterns also include an allowance for oils and describe the limited number of calories available for other uses, such as added sugars, saturated fats, and alcohol.
- Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan.
- Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount
- Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake
Dietary and physical activity guidelines in the context of overweight and obesity in the Mexican population (Spanish: Guías Alimentarias y de Actividad Física en contexto de sobrepeso y obesidad en la población mexicana).
The latest edition of the Guidelines was published in 2015.
The current food guide is a plate divided in three parts (El Plato del Buen Comer), each one representing a food group: vegetables and fruits, cereals, legumes and animal source foods (including dairy, meat, poultry and fish).
Main messages:
"Be physically active and eat properly to maintain a healthy body weight and prevent diseases, by following these recommendations:"
Take your time to eat and enjoy your meals by sharing them with family and friends whenever possible.
Include the three food groups: fruits and vegetables, cereals, legumes and animal source foods in your breakfast, lunch and diner.
Drink plenty of plain water. Drink plain aguas frescas or flavored water without added sugar instead of sweetened drinks such as soft drinks, juices and aguas frescas.
Dietary guidelines for the Argentinian population (Guías alimentarias para la población Argentina)
Argentina first launched its first FBDGs and food guide in 2000. They were revised in 2014 and the update was published in 2016. A revision is expected to begin in 2022.
Argentina’s food guide is represented by a circle, which includes six food groups: vegetables and fruits; legumes, cereals, potatoes, bread and pasta; milk, yogurt and cheese; meats and eggs; oils, dried fruit and seeds; and the optional group (sweets and fats). Water is included in the center of the circle.
Main messages:
Incorporate foods from all groups and at least 30 min of physical activity daily.
Make 4 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner) include vegetables, fruits, legumes, cereals, milk, yogurt or cheese, eggs, meats and oils.
Eat calmly, if possible accompanied and moderate the size of the portions.
Choose foods prepared at home rather than processed.
Dietary guidelines for the Cuban population over two years of age. Dietary guidelines for Cuban children younger than two years of age. Technical manual for health teams
The first food-based dietary guidelines for the Cuban population were published in 2000. A revised version was published in 2009. The dietary guidelines for children younger than 2 years of age were published in 2007.
The food guide used is seven food plates in decreasing size reflecting daily recommended amounts. The biggest plate has cereals, plantain and tubers. The medium sized ones have vegetables, fruits, meats and eggs. The smaller ones contain oil, fat, sugar, and foods rich in these.
Main messages:
A variety of foods during the day is pleasant and necessary for good health.
Eat vegetables every day; fill yourself up with life.
Eat fresh fruits and your vitality will increase.
Choose vegetable oils; cooking fat is harmful to your health.
Fish and chicken are the healthiest meats.
Japanese Food Pyramid
1985
The traditional diet of Japan is basically made up of rice, fish, seaweed, vegetables and soy derivatives, but its main characteristic is that it is advisable to eat a wide variety of foods (up to 30 different types of foods every day), yes, combined at each meal and in small amounts.
Main messages:
You have to eat a variety of foods to ensure a balanced diet. It is convenient to consume 30 or more types of them each day.
The daily energy intake must be adjusted according to the degree of activity or individual physical exhaustion. Eating more than you should raises your risk of developing obesity.
Australia's nutritional pyramid
2015
The Australian pyramid is one of the few nutritional guides in the Western world that includes the group of vegetables, fruits and vegetables at the base to the detriment of cereals. Also includes in this group, legumes. In addition, when he talks about cereals, he refers to the variety of whole grains, prioritizing brown rice, quinoa and whole oat flakes, leaving flours, refined cereals and sugary breakfast cereals out of the pyramid, even explicitly recommending, changing the variety of cereals refined by whole grains.
Main messages
Enjoy herbs and spices (an invitation to cook).
Choose water to drink.
Limit salt and added sugar.
Enjoy a variety of foods and be active every day.
Ten guidelines of the German Nutrition Society for a wholesome diet (German: Vollwertig essen und trinken nach den 10 Regeln der DGE).
The German dietary guidelines were first published in 1956 and have been regularly updated since then. The current version was published in 2017 and it is expected to be updated by 2022
Germany uses the nutrition circle as its food guide. The nutrition circle is divided into six food groups: cereals and potatoes; vegetables; fruits; milk and dairy products; meat, sausages, fish and eggs; and fats and oils.
Main messages
The German guidelines are targeted at the general healthy population.
Enjoy a variety of foods.
Eat plenty of cereals, preferably wholegrain, and potatoes.
Vegetables and fruits – eat ‘five-a-day’.
Eat milk and dairy products every day; fish once or twice a week; and meat, sausages and eggs in moderation.
Dietary guidelines for Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye'ye Özgü Beslenme Rehberi).
Turkey published its food-based dietary guidelines in 2004. The English version was published in 2006. Turkey is currently revising its guidelines and will publish a new version at the end of 2014.
Turkey’s food guide is a four-leaf clover divided into four basic food groups: milk and dairy; meat, eggs, fish, legumes and seeds; vegetables and fruit; and bread and cereal.
Main messages
A diet containing adequate energy should be consumed to protect the appropriate combination of weight and body composition.
A diet containing all food groups should be consumed.
Increase food variety.
Increase the consumption of foods containing carbohydrates.
Finnish nutrition recommendations 2014
Finland published the fourth version of its dietary guidelines in 2014. They are based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012.
Finland uses a food triangle and a food plate model as food guides. The triangle represents the components of a good diet according to their relative weight in the whole diet. The food plate model depicts the same thing for a single meal.
Main messages
Eat vegetables, fruits and berries frequently (a minimum of 500 g/day, excluding potatoes).
Eat wholegrain cereals (bread, porridge, pasta, etc.) several times a day. Prefer fibre-rich and low-salt products. Avoid products made of refined flour with plenty of hard fat and sugar.
Use soft vegetable oil based spreads on bread and vegetable oils in cooking and salads.
Eat fish (of different kinds) two to three times a week.
The French National Nutrition and Health Program’s dietary guidelines (Recommandations alimentaires du Programme national nutrition santé)
The first official FBDGs were published in 2002 for adults, in 2004 for children, in 2006 for the elderly, and in 2008 for pregnant women. The revised version of the guidelines for adults was published in 2019. The new guidelines for children from birth to 17 years old and adolescents will be published in 2021.
Frances has no established food guide.
Main messages
the consumption of fruits and vegetables, regardless of their forms (raw, cooked, natural, prepared, fresh, frozen or canned), to achieve at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and a small handful of unsalted nuts per day
the consumption of pulses (beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc), at least twice a week
meals prepared at home