Better health and ageing for all Australians

Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Nutrition publications

This page contains a list of publications about nutrition.

In this section:

The Government provides guidelines and recommendations for Australians to encourage healthy eating that will minimise the risk of the development of diet-related diseases within the Australian population.


For consumers and nutrition educators

Dietary Guidelines for all Australians

The Australian Dietary Guidelines were produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to provide recommendations based on the best scientific evidence which can improve the health of Australians and reduce the burden of preventable diet-related death, illness and disability.

Known jointly as the Australian Dietary Guidelines they are the:
  • Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults;
  • Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia (incorporating the Infant Feeding Guidelines for Health Workers); and
  • Dietary Guidelines for Older Australians.
These guidelines are designed for different population groups but all have a clear emphasis on enjoying a wide variety of nutritious foods and actively promote the increased consumption of breads, cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruits.

Dietary Guidelines for all Australians
Dietary Guidelines for Older Adults (please note these guidelines have been rescinded)
Further information on the Dietary Guidelines can be found at the Healthy Active website

Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, the national food selection guide, provides information about the amounts and types of food that need to be eaten each day to get enough of the nutrients essential for good health and well-being.

A diet consistent with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends people consume fresh food and avoid foods that contain too much added fat, salt and sugar. The Guide aims to promote healthy eating habits throughout life, which will assist in reducing the risk of health problems in later life, such as heart disease, obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.


Publications :

Get Up & Grow: Health Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood resources
These resources have been developed to support early childhood education and care settings (centre based care, family day care and preschools) to implement the healthy eating and physical activity guidelines.

Australian Guide to Healthy Eating – Consumer booklet (1998)
This booklet has been developed to assist consumers to choose a healthy diet using a variety of foods. The booklet provides practical information for food selection and preparation to help people choose a balanced and healthy diet containing all necessary nutrients.
Publication number : NUT 06

Australian Guide to Healthy Eating – Background Information for Nutrition Educators (1998)
The manual has been written for people who educate others about eating for good health, including primary and high school teachers, TAFE and university lecturers, community educators and health professionals.
Publication number : NUT 05

Australian Guide to Healthy Eating – Summary Information brochure (1998)
The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating provides information about the amounts and kinds of food that you need each day to get enough of the nutrients essential for good health and well being. It is designed to help you choose foods for health and well being that fit in with your daily life.
Publication number : NUT 04

Australian Guide to Healthy Eating – Poster (1998)
Poster illustrating the healthy eating food guide
Publication number : NUT 35(A4) | NUT 07(A1)

Frequently Asked Questions : Top of page

For nutrition educators and health professionals

Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand including Recommended Dietary Intakes

The Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand including Recommended Dietary Intakes (NRV) is a set of recommendations for nutritional intake based on currently available scientific knowledge.

More information is available on the NRV website.

Related publications are available to download from the NHMRC website.

National Public Health Partnership’s Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan – Eat Well Australia, 2000-2010

As of 30 June 2006 the NPHP was replaced with the Australian Health Protection Committee and the Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee, two Principal Committees of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council.

Strategies to improve nutrition outcomes in Australia, outlined in Eat Well Australia were consistent with the Food and Nutrition Policy (1992). The Food and Nutrition Policy was based on the principles of good nutrition, sustainability and equity and aimed to improve the health of all Australians and reduce the burden of preventable diet-related death, illness and disability. Strategies that contributed to the implementation of the policy were outlined in the National Food and Nutrition Policy Summary Report (1998).

1995 National Nutrition Survey Publications

The last National Nutrition Survey was conducted in conjunction with the National Health Survey in 1995 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Department of Health and Ageing. The results were released between 1997 and 1999.

The results from the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey are expected to be launched in mid 2008. The first survey of the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Program is expected to commence in late 2009 and is expected to focus on Australian adults. For further information visit National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Program.

There are 13 publications available in PDF format below. Top of page

Order Publications

Material can be obtained from:
National Mailing and Marketing
PO Box 7077
CANBERRA MAILING CENTRE ACT 2610, on 1800 020 103 (ext. 8654),
Or by emailing health@nationalmailing.com.au

For further information please email PHD Frontdesk.