Foods

A balanced diet is an essential part of healthy living. Here you'll find important nutritional information about specific food groups, such as fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy products.

 

To find out more about the health benefits of particular foods - just select the relevant food group from the full list of topics below.

 

To find out about nutrients, such as fats and oils, vitamins and carbohydrates, follow the link below to Key Nutrients . 

 

Reviewed September 2008

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Related HealthInsite Topics
Cereals
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on cereals and their role in a balanced diet.
Dairy Foods
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to resources on dairy products, their role in a balanced diet and recommended intake.
Eggs
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on eggs in their role in a good diet.
Fish
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on fish and fish products, and their role in a balanced diet.
Fruit
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to resources on fruit and their role in a balanced diet.
Meat
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on meat, how it can provide the body with a rich supply of iron and other nutrients, and some of the health issues associated with eating meat.
Vegetables
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to resources on vegetables, and their role in a balanced diet.
Fast Foods
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on ´fast foods´, including takeaway meals and how to create fast healthy food.
Food Additives
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on food additives, such as colourings, flavourings and sweeteners.
Food Allergies
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about food hypersensitivities and allergies.
Food Supplements
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on nutritional food supplements.
Genetically Modified Foods
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about genetically modified (GM) foods.
Key Nutrients
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on how various nutrients can support a healthy lifestyle.
18 Resources Found
Results 1 to 18 displayed.
Title:   Herbs & spices
Publisher:   Healthy Eating Club
Description:   Culinary herbs are herbaceous (leafy) plants that add flavour and colour to all types of meals. They have also been used for centuries to preserve food due to the presence of antioxidant phytochemicals.
Date:   Feb 2003
Title:   Explaining symbols on food labels
Publisher:   Nutrition Australia
Description:   To complement the new FSANZ booklet 'The official shopper's guide to food additives and labels', Nutrition Australia have compiled information on symbols that are found on food labels.
Date:   Jul 2003
Title:   Non Alcoholic Beverages
Publisher:   HealthInsite Topic Page
Description:   Links to information about non alcoholic beverages.
Date:   Jun 2004
Title:   Alcohol
Publisher:   Inspire Foundation
Description:   Alcohol is a type of drug that is legal in most countries. This fact sheet contains information on the reasons why people drink, the effects of drinking, and some of the things you need to keep in mind when drinking.
Date:   Jun 2008
Title:   Regular/diet soft drinks and caffeine linked to metabolic syndrome?
Publisher:   Healthy Eating Club
Description:   Coffee's impact on sugar metabolism is currently unclear. Coffee has been linked to a reduced risk of diabetes and an increased risk in the general population but it is not yet known whether this is due to the caffeine content or other compounds in coffee.
Date:   Aug 2007
Title:   Healthy cooking tips
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Healthy cooking is easy. In many cases, your favourite recipes can be modified so they offer a healthier alternative. Non-stick cookware can be used to reduce the need for cooking oil. To keep valuable nutrients, microwave or steam your vegetables instead of boiling them.
Date:   Nov 2007
Title:   Nuts in a healthy diet
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Nuts are high in protein, carbohydrates and fibre as well as containing many vitamins and minerals.
Date:   May 2002
Title:   Nuts
Publisher:   Healthy Eating Club
Description:   A handful of a variety of nuts 2 to 5 times a week has been found to significantly lower the risk of heart disease.
Date:   Apr 2004
Title:   Notice of publication of request for review of A552
Publisher:   Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:   Food Ministers request a review of variation to Standard 1.4.1 - Contaminants and Natural Toxicants, that has resulted from Application A552 - Cadmium in Peanuts
Date:   Dec 2008
Title:   More about vitamins
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   The word vitamin means vital to life. All plants and animals need vitamins but only green plants can make all the vitamins they need.
Date:   Apr 2008
Title:   Walnuts
Publisher:   Healthy Eating Club
Description:   Walnuts help to keep blood vessels 'dilated' in people with high cholesterol levels
Date:   Apr 2004
Title:   Is there any truth to the rumour that some of the food additives in processed foods in Australia are harmful?
Publisher:   Nutrition Australia
Description:   Because food safety is so important (after all, everyone has to eat!) all new food additives must have been subjected to stringent safety testing before they can be approved.
Date:   Mar 2006
Title:   Food Additives
Publisher:   HealthInsite Topic Page
Description:   Links to information on food additives, such as colourings, flavourings and sweeteners.
Date:   May 2006
Title:   Headache and diet
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Diet can play a significant role in triggering headache and migraine in susceptible people. Fluctuating blood sugar levels, caffeine withdrawal, naturally occurring food chemicals and food additives have all been implicated. Treatments vary according to the cause.
Date:   Sep 2007
Title:   Food labels explained
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Food labels carry information that will help you to make food choices. Foods that have a shelf life of less than two years must carry a 'use-by' or 'best before' date. Food labels provide a list of ingredients, a nutrition information panel and may make nutrition and health claims.
Date:   Jul 2008
Title:   Media release. Food Ministers agree to a strategic vision for Australian and New Zealand food regulation system
Publisher:   Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Description:   Health warnings on packaged alcohol and a draft standard on nutrition, health and related claims were discussed by the Australian and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council today.
Date:   May 2008
Title:   Avoiding salt to prevent or treat high blood pressure and other salt-related conditions - detailed answer
Publisher:   Nutrition Australia
Description:   The following questions and answers explain how people can reduce salt consumption to (a) Treat such conditions as high blood pressure, swollen ankles ('idiopathic oedema'), premenstrual syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome and the severe vertigo attacks of Meniere's syndrome; and (b) Help to prevent these conditions
Date:   Sep 2004
Title:   Summary faq on avoiding salt to prevent or treat high blood pressure and other salt-related conditions
Publisher:   Nutrition Australia
Description:   Most cases of high blood pressure are believed to result from inappropriate diet and lifestyle, especially high salt intake and low levels of physical activity.
Date:   Jan 2003
Results 1 to 18 displayed.