Nutritional Guidelines

Each jurisdiction on the island of Ireland has established nutritional guidelines. In Northern Ireland the guidelines are represented by the eatwell plate, while in the Republic of Ireland the food pyramid is used. These two educational tools illustrate what foods we need to eat every day and how much of those foods we need to eat. We have to eat foods in the right amounts and in the right combinations to achieve a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet, coupled with active living, can help to maintain good health throughout life.

Both the eatwell plate and the Food Pyramid are based on the five food groups.

• Bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods
• Fruit and vegetables
• Milk and dairy foods
• Meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
• Foods and drinks high in fat and/or sugar.

Both resources encourage people to choose different foods from the first four groups every day, to help ensure that you obtain the wide range of nutrients your body needs to remain healthy and function properly. Foods in the fifth group – foods and drinks high in fat and/or sugar - are not essential to a healthy diet.

For more information on the eatwell plate (Northern Ireland) click here.

For more information on the Food Pyramid (Republic of Ireland) click here.