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  • Page | Last updated: 11 Apr 2025

Food-Based Dietary Guidelines - Guidance on a varied diet

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

Summary of FBDG guidance on a varied diet for the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

Due care was taken to ensure factually correct information. Food groupings and food group names differ across individual FBDGs; the ones used here are a compromise to present the information in a structured way. Differences such as those in number of portions and portion sizes were kept unaltered. The original country FBDGs and the responsible national public health authorities remain the only qualified points of reference.

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

Belgium-
Bulgaria

Eat a wholesome and varied diet. Eat regularly and with pleasure in a pleasant atmosphere, take enough time to eat.

Include representatives of all major food groups in the menu daily: 1. cereals or potatoes; 2. vegetables and fruits; 3. milk and milk products; 4. meat, fish, eggs, legumes and nuts.

CzechiaEat a varied diet

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

DenmarkEat a plant-rich and varied diet. Plant-rich and varied food is food with many vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grain products and potatoes. Plant-rich food in line with the Official Dietary Guidelines also includes fish, eggs, dairy products and vegetables oils, as well as a limited amount of meat. Introduce meat-free days and cut down on meat in your meals. Eat different vegetables, fruit, different cereal products, different types of fish, etc.
GermanyNo single food or food group contains all nutrients in sufficient quantities. Take advantage of the wide range of foods on offer and eat a variety of foods. Then your body is well supplied with all nutrients. Prefer seasonal fruit and vegetables of various colours. Take advantage of the variety of foods within each group.
EstoniaFor best availability of nutrients, vary foods, by type, manufacturer, and origin
IrelandEnjoy a variety every day

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

GreeceConsume a variety of fruit, vegetables, cereals every day. Consume a variety of fish and seafood. Consume a variety of dairy products.
Spain-
FranceEnsure that the daily food intake - not necessarily each meal - is generally close to the benchmarks as much as possible. Whilst the consumption of certain products is to be limited (in terms of frequency and quantity), there is no question of prohibiting them. Their consumption can be fully integrated into a healthy diet.
Give priority to variety in all its forms: to diversify the places and the modes of supply as well as the origins of the products. These elements are important for nutritional balance as well as for limiting exposure to environmental contaminants and for moving towards a sustainable diet.
Avoid excessive portions and consumption. By remaining exceptional, excess food is not likely to affect the overall food balance.

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

Croatia

Eat a variety of colourful and seasonal foods.

A healthy plate should include 10% fruit, 40% vegetables, 30% cereal-base products and 20% protein -rich products.

ItalyChoose a wide variety of foods
CyprusThe traditional Mediterranean diet is recommended with many legumes, fish, olive oil, fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain cereals
LatviaEat a variety of foods every day

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

LithuaniaEat a variety of foods
LuxembourgThere is no right or wrong food, eat a varied diet.
HungaryEat a varied, balanced diet
MaltaTraditional Mediterranean diet recommended

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

Netherlands

Vary within food groups.
Vary between food groups within the same segment of the Wheel of Five.
Vary between foods outside the Wheel of Five.

In order to obtain the maximum possible health benefits, sufficient nutrient provision, and consumption of more plant-based foods.

Austria-
PolandEat a variety of products every day. 
PortugalEat foods from each food group (see Mediterranean diet Wheel) every day to have a complete diet. Within each food group are gathered foods that are nutritionally similar, which may be regularly replaced by one another in order to ensure variety.

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

RomaniaEat a variety of foods
SloveniaChoose a varied diet that should contain more plant-based foods than animal-based foods
SlovakiaEat a variety of foods within the recommended limits, food or meals portions and levels of physical activity
Finland-
SwedenMaintain a balance

Country

FBDG guidance on a varied diet

United KingdomThe Eatwell Guide shows the proportions in which different types of foods are needed to have a well-balanced and healthy diet
SwitzerlandA balanced diet is varied and takes into account both different food groups and their variety of foods. Enjoy the variety of foods and choose them in a varied way.
Prefer seasonal fruits and vegetables, preferably in different colours. Alternate between different protein sources over the course of a week: legumes, tofu, eggs, meat, fish, and others.
All levels of the pyramid can be consumed. Foods at the lower levels are needed in larger quantities than those higher up. Only the top level is non-essential. A balanced diet is diverse and incorporates not only different food groups but a variety of different foodstuffs within the food group. Focus primarily on foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed, such as vegetables, fruits, bread and plain yoghurt. Ultra-processed foods such as sausage products, ready-to-eat meals and confectionery often have long lists of ingredients and are often high in energy, saturated fats, salt, sugar and additives, but contain low amounts of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre.
IcelandEat a varied diet, regularly in a reasonable amount, enjoy eating and pay attention to eating
NorwayThere is room for all types of food in eating healthy and varied diet, but in different amounts. Some foods should be eaten every day, while other foods should be limited to some times a week or more rarely.
The plate model can be an aid to set together eating varied and mainly plant-based meal. The proportion of fruits, berries or vegetables can make up about half the plate, and the carbohydrate and protein sources about 1⁄4 of the plate each. Use the plate model for all meals.
For example, the plate may consist of:
- fruits, berries or vegetables
- carbohydrate sources such as whole grain products (such as coarse bread, grains, whole grain pasta, whole grains, couscous, barley rice and coarse bulgur) or potatoes
- protein sources such as fish and seafood, beans, lentils and peas, eggs or dairy products and meat with less fat