Appendix A

The Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents were developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to encourage consumption of a variety of foods from the five core foods groups. This is to help ensure children receive adequate intake of all the essential nutrients to grow and develop normally.

The following guidelines apply to the general population of healthy children, from birth to eighteen years of age. (NHMRC, 2003)

• 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 (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain.
• Include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives.
• Include milk, yogurt, cheese and/or alternatives.
• Choose water as a drink.

• Care should be taken to:
  
• Limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake.
• Choose foods low in salt.
• Consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars.