Healthy Eating Pyramid Australia: Is the Food Pyramid Still Used?
The Healthy Eating Pyramid is Nutrition Australia's model (2015); Australia's official guide is the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating plate (NHMRC). How the pyramid and plate relate, and whether the food pyramid is still used in Australia.
The food pyramid in Australia
The pyramid and the plate follow the same dietary guidelines. They differ in shape, in who publishes them and in how they group dairy.
Pyramid and plate compared
| Healthy Eating Pyramid | Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (official) | |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | Nutrition Australia, a non-government organisation | The NHMRC, for the Australian Government |
| Latest version | 2015 | 2013 |
| Shape | Four layers, largest at the base | Five food groups as shares of a plate |
| Largest section | Vegetables, legumes and fruit | Vegetables and legumes, tied with grain foods |
| Dairy | One layer with lean meats and alternatives | Its own food group |
If you grew up with the pyramid, the plate is the same advice shown as shares of a meal. Our calculator and food groups page follow the plate.
What changed in 2015
The 2015 version replaced the older three-tier 'eat most / eat moderately / eat in small amounts' pyramid. It put vegetables, legumes and fruit together at the base.
Around the layers, the pyramid suggests herbs and spices to add flavour without salt.