Healthy Eating Guidelines
The Healthy Food for Life resources are for the entire population over the age of five and they define the Irish Government recommendations on healthy eating and a balanced diet. They provide a consistent and evidence-based approach for healthy eating advice.
The guidelines and resources provide practical support for individuals and families to make healthier food choices and to ultimately improve their health and wellbeing. They include a leaflet, infographic of the food pyramid, sample daily meal plans, guidelines on portion sizes and fact sheets.
The key messages from Healthy Food for Life are:
- Eat more vegetables, salad and fruit - Up to seven servings a day
- Limit intake of high fat, sugar, salt (HFSS) food and drinks
- Size matters: Use the food pyramid as a guide for serving sizes
- Increase your physical activity levels
- Small changes can make a big difference. Start TODAY!
The Healthy Food for Life resources can also be ordered from healthpromotion.ie
The Nutrition standards for food and beverage provision for staff and visitors in health care settings have been developed by HSE and safefood to provide practical support and guidance for food and beverage providers employed or contracted to the health services to provide ensure that their services are in line with the Department of Health Healthy Food for Life guidelines. Along with the HSE Calorie Posting Policy and HSE Vending Policy, these standards will support staff and visitors to make healthier food choices when purchasing food and beverages in health service facilities.
In the context of mobilising the public sector to improve diet and ultimately health and wellbeing across the population as a whole, these standards complement the Nutritional Standards for School Meals.
Food Pyramid
Simple Version
The basic version of the Food Pyramid A3 poster published by the Department of Health in December 2016.
Food Pyramid Simple Version English (PDF)
Food Pyramid Simple Version Irish (PDF)
Consumer Version
The consumer version of the Food Pyramid A3 poster published by the Department of Health in December 2016.
Food Pyramid Consumer Version - English (PDF)
Food Pyramid Consumer Version - Irish (PDF)
Professional Version
The professional version of the Food Pyramid A3 poster published by the Department of Health in December 2016.
Food Pyramid Professional Version - English (PDF)
Food Pyramid Professional Version - Irish (PDF)
Food Pyramid Information Leaflet
A 7-page information leaflet providing advice on how to improve eating habits to help towards leading a healthier lifestyle. The leaflet supports the information provided in the Food Pyramid.
Food Pyramid Information Leaflet - English (PDF)
Food Pyramid Information Leaflet - Irish (PDF)
Food Pyramid Questions and Answers
A 4-page Questions and Answers document providing information as to why the Department of Health has published a new Food Pyramid.
Food Pyramid Q and A - English (PDF)
Food Pyramid Q and A - Irish (PDF)
Food Pyramid Rationale Paper
An 8-page rationale paper to help inform Dietitians, Health Professionals, Teachers and Health Correspondents about changes to revised Healthy Eating Guidelines and Food Pyramid.
Food Pyramid Rationale Paper - English (PDF)
Food Pyramid Rationale Paper - Irish (PDF)
Food Shelf Fact Sheets | ||
 | Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt | Facts about items contained on the top shelf of the Food Pyramid |
 | Fats, spreads and oils | Facts about items contained on the second shelf of the Food Pyramid |
 | Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts | Facts about items contained on the third shelf of the Food Pyramid |
 | Milk, yogurt and cheese | Facts about items contained on the fourth shelf of the Food Pyramid |
 | Wholemeal cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice | Facts about items contained on the fifth shelf of the Food Pyramid |
 | Vegetables, salad and fruit | Facts about items contained on the sixth shelf of the Food Pyramid |
Daily Meal Plans | ||
 | Jakub, Aged 5 | Jakub, an active boy aged 5, loves being outdoors playing with his friends. Jakub needs 3 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf |
 | Niamh, Aged 10 | Niamh is a very active 10 year old, plays GAA and loves to dance. Niamh needs 4 servings from the Wholemeal cereals, and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf. As a child between 9 and 18 years, she needs 5 servings from the Milk, yogurt and cheese shelf |
 | Matthew, Aged 21 | Matthew, a 21 year old student living away from home. Matthew needs 7 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf |
 | Siobhán, Aged 30 | Siobhán, aged 30, is a stay at home mum who is breastfeeding her 6 month old baby. Since it's possible she could become pregnant, she is taking a folic acid supplement. Siobhán needs 5 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf |
 | Michael, Aged 52 | Michael is a 52 year old office worker who is overweight. He needs 4 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf. When he starts losing weight he could have 5 servings and should aim to lose 1-2 lbs per week |
 | Tom, Aged 67 | Tom is 67 years and has recently retired. He has started his retirement plan of walking 30 minutes, 5 days a week and he needs to lose the weight he has put on over the last 10 years. He needs 4 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf |
 | Mary, Aged 70 | Mary, aged 70, enjoys looking after her 2 young grandchildren, so she is kept active. Mary needs 5 servings from the Wholemeal Cereals and breads, potatoes, past and rice shelf |
Supporting Infographics | ||
 | Milk, Yogurt, Cheese | How many servings do I need a day? |
 | Wholemeal Cereals and Breads, Potatoes, Pasta and Rice | How many servings do I need a day? |
 | Serving Size Guide | What is in a serving? |
 | Getting Active | How much activity do I need a day? |
 | Alcohol | What are the recommended alcohol limits? What is 1 standard drink? |
Top Tips and Myth Busters
A 2-page document aimed at providing tips to assist with healthy eating and active living.
Top Tips and Myth Busters - Irish (PDF)
Top Tips and Myth Busters - English (PDF)
101+ Square Meals
101+ Square Meals uses the Irish Food Pyramid and Healthy Eating Guidelines to help you plan healthier meals and get the best value for your money.
3 Week Meal Plan
The 3 week menu plan is a resource for pre-school to facilitate the implementation of healthy eating in this setting.
Nutritional Standards for School Meals
Nutritional Standards for School Meals (PDF)
These Nutrition Standards will be a valuable resource to support the ongoing work to enable and promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles in schools and will help more children to derive the maximum benefit from their education so that they can achieve their full potential.