New guidelines on healthy eating

Health Minister James Reilly has launched launched two publications on healthy eating, one aimed at the general public and the other at other at health professionals.

The booklets are: "Your Guide to Healthy Eating Using the Food Pyramid" from the Department of Health, and a Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) resource for Health Professionals: "Healthy Eating and Active Living for Adults, Teenagers and Children over 5 years - A Food Guide for Health Professionals and Catering Services."

The food pyramid guide is user-friendly, with each shelf of the pyramid given a two page spread of information and pictorial emphasis and contain simple messages about everyday food choices.

"While parents should have a guide to children's appetites and the speed of their growth, these guidelines strongly recommend a concentration on the size of portion of food eaten," Dr Reilly said at the launch.

The Minister also pointed out the main changes to the food pyramid, pointing out that the top shelf of the pyramid was now different.

"The revised guidelines now focus on typical foods and drinks from this shelf that contain approximately 100 calories and the need to restrict servings per day to one serving maximum. Focusing specifically on reducing top shelf foods and drinks is the Department of Health's key healthy eating message. Alcohol is now also included on the top shelf, as it provides calories."

Prof Alan Reilly Chief Executive, of the FSAI said that this is the first time there has been detailed healthy eating advice for health professionals tailored to meet the needs of different age and gender groups in Ireland.

"Our new healthy eating advice is based on the best scientific advice available to us and was developed using Irish consumption data. Thus, it is modelled for our specific dietary behaviours in Ireland and gives guidelines for people across four age groups from five to 51-plus years leading active and non-active lifestyles."

"In addition, we have given specific advice where dietary intake in Ireland is deficient - vitamin D in all age groups and calcium in children aged 9 to 13 years."

The bookets are available to download here

[Posted: Thu 14/06/2012]