Dietary Guidlines

At-a-glance guidelines.

Australian children should:

1. Eat sufficient nutritious foods to grow and develop normally.

2. Eat a variety of foods from the five food groups every day.

3. Limit intake of foods high in saturated fat, like biscuits, cakes, chips and fried foods.

For the full list of guidelines, visit eatforhealth.gov.au

Children are learning habits that will often last them a lifetime. Consider the following:

Breakfast is important. Children who eat breakfast have better concentration. Eating breakfast can reduce snacking on high-energy foods in the afternoon in both adults and children.
Be realistic about the size of the serve you offer children. Forcing children to finish what is on their plate when they are not hungry may lead to overeating and/or strong food dislikes.
Avoid giving children processed snack foods high in sugar. Encourage brushing teeth in the morning and before bed to develop good dental habits.