Less Red Meat, More Vegetables in New Dutch Nutrition Recommendations

The Netherlands Nutrition Center is responsible for developing food-based dietary guidelines in line with scientific advice provided by the National Health Council. Universities, nutrition institutes and the food industry were consulted during the development process. The guidelines are endorsed by the Ministry of Health.

 

The Center now advises less meat. The new dietary advice also calls for more variety: the group of fruit and vegetables was expanded. New to the list are nuts, legumes, yogurt, eggs and coffee.
The recommended amount of daily vegetables was increased from 200 grams to 250 grams, and daily intake of meat was decreased.

 

Intended audience
The guidelines are directed at the healthy population over 1 year of age. They include specific recommendations of foods to be eaten on a daily basis for different population groups.
The guidelines document is used by professionals, particularly health providers and nutritionists. The food guide, the Wheel of Five, is used for public education.

 

Food guide
The food-based dietary guidelines are represented by the Wheel of Five (Dutch: Schijf van Vijf). The wheel is divided into four food groups and one beverage group:

 

Fruits and vegetables and carbohydrate sources are shown at the top and cover more than half of the disk. Animal source foods, fats and oils comprise a much smaller part. Water and other beverages such as tea, coffee and milk complete the wheel.

 

People should make sure not to eat too many products that fall outside those five categories – specifically processed products which generally contains a lot of sugar, salt or saturated fat.

 

Candy, snacks, biscuits, sauces, meats, juices and sweet spreads may be eaten, but not too often.