Why 5-a-Day? - SA Guidelines for Health Eating
South African nutrition experts have developed food based dietary guidelines (FBDG’s)
for healthy South Africans older than 7 years, to promote healthy eating habits among
South Africans. The Department of Health has approved these guidelines for use as the
basis for a healthy eating plan to help combat the growing burden of chronic diseases,
namely cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, diabetes and dental caries, as well
as existing nutritional disorders associated with poverty and undernutrition.
The Department of Health has made the
5-a-Day for Better Health TRUST its official partner in getting the 5-a-Day message ‘Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit every day for better health’ out to all South Africans.
South African Guidelines for Healthy Eating
For adults and children over the age of seven years.
- Enjoy a variety of foods
- Be active
- Drink lots of clean, safe water
- Make starchy foods the basis of most meals
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits every day
- Eat dry beans, peas, lentils and soya regularly
- Chicken, fish, meat, milk or eggs can be eaten daily
- Eat fats sparingly
- Use salt sparingly
- Use food and drinks containing sugar sparingly and not between meals
