Food Selection Models Flashcards
(12 cards)
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating - Aims
- Federal government initiative to promote healthy nutrition.
- Aims to reduce short- and long-term health consequences of poor diet.
- Based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
- Acts as a food selection model for everyday consumption.
- Presented in poster form using a visual pie chart.
- Pie chart shows recommended five food groups:
Vegetables
Fruits
Grains
Lean meats and alternatives
Milk, yoghurt, and cheese products.
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating - Explanation
Grain foods (e.g. bread, rice, pasta):
30–35% of daily intake
Vegetables and legumes/beans:
30% of daily intake
Meats and alternatives (e.g. eggs, tofu, fish):
15% of daily intake
Fruits:
10–12% of daily intake
Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives:
10–12% of daily intake
A glass of water is shown.
Healthy fats (e.g. margarine, canola spray):
Shown in bottom left corner of AGHE
Says use small amounts
Discretionary foods (e.g. chips, soft drinks, cakes):
Shown in bottom right corner
Says only sometimes in small amounts
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating - Strengths
- visual model and therefore more of the population will be able to understand the nutrition message.
- shows specific examples of foods in each group, providing different options for Australians, and catering for different needs; for example, low-cost foods are also included.
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating - Weaknesses
- does not provide information on serving sizes and composite foods, making it difficult to apply
The Health Star Rating system - Aims
- endorsed by the Australian government
- Rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged foods
- Assigned a rating from ½ star to 5 stars (more stars = healthier)
- Appears on the front of packaged food for quick comparison
The Health Star Rating system - Explanation
Assesses energy (kJ) and risk nutrients:
Saturated fat
Sodium (salt)
Sugars
Also considers protective (positive) nutrients:
Dietary fibre
Protein
Fruit, vegetable, nut and legume content
Voluntary system — companies choose to use it
No cost for companies to apply for a Health Star Rating
The Health Star Rating system - Strengths
Highlights foods higher in protective nutrients and lower in risk nutrients
Enables quick and easy comparison of similar packaged foods
Helps young people make healthier choices
The Health Star Rating system - Weaknesses
Does not guarantee a balanced diet even if the food has a high rating
‘As prepared’ loophole allowed misleading ratings (e.g., Milo powder)
Can cause consumer confusion about true nutritional value
Voluntary system — not all products display the rating
The Healthy Eating Pyramid - Aims
Developed by Nutrition Australia (non-government organisation)
Based on the five food groups from the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE)
Arranged into four levels showing proportions of food intake
Aims to promote good health and wellbeing
The Healthy Eating Pyramid - Explanation
Foundation layers (bottom two):
Plant-based foods: vegetables, legumes, fruits, grains
Should make up the majority of daily intake
Provide carbohydrates, fibre, B-group vitamins, folate
Middle layer:
Dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese) → provides calcium, protein
Meat and alternatives (lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes) → provides protein, iron, healthy fats
Top layer:
Healthy fats (mono- and polyunsaturated fats)
Consume in small amounts for heart and brain health
Top Left Corner: Big X, image of salt and sugar, says limit salt and added sugar.
Bottom corners says: Enjoy herbs and spices, and choose water.
The Healthy Eating Pyramid - Weaknesses
Does not show serving sizes, making it hard to apply in daily life
No guidance on composite foods (e.g. lasagna, pizza)
Can be interpreted differently by individuals without nutrition knowledge
The Healthy Eating Pyramid - Strengths
Simple visual tool for promoting healthy eating habits in youth
Encourages variety and minimally processed foods
Updated regularly to reflect current nutrition research
