Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia

The Healthy Canteen Kit is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia*. These guidelines have been developed by the government in conjunction with food and nutrition experts using current scientific information. The guidelines provide advice to ensure that young people are eating the foods they require to optimise good health and minimise the risk of diseases related to poor nutrition.

Children and adolescents need sufficient nutritious foods to grow and develop normally. Growth should be checked regularly for young children. Physical activity is important for all children and adolescents.

Children and adolescents should be encouraged to:

• eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruit
• eat plenty of cereals, preferably wholegrain
• include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
• include milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives (reduced-fat milks are not recommended for children under 2 years because of their high energy needs, but reduced-fat varieties should be encouraged for older children and adolescents)
• choose water as a drink.

Care should be taken to:

• limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake (low-fat diets are not suitable for infants)
• choose foods low in salt
• consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars.

*Food for Health: Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.