The Ministry of Health's guide Healthy Eating for Adult New Zealanders reflects some of the thinking behind the Food Pyramid, but does not actually include the pyramid. It says:
- Eat a variety of foods from each of the four major food groups each day. This includes vegetables (at least 3 servings), fruit (at least 2), breads and other cereals (at least 6), dairy products (at least 3), protein such as lean meat, chicken, seafood, eggs, beans and lentils (at least 1 serving).
- Eat foods low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar.
- Maintain a healthy body weight by regular exercise and healthy eating.
- Drink plenty of liquids each day, especially water.
- If drinking alcohol, do so in moderation.
The key differences between this list and the Harvard approach are:
- The MoH does not advocate that large amounts of unsaturated fats should be eaten daily.
- It says nothing about the different sorts of carbohydrates and proteins.
- It does not address the issues surrounding dairy foods or supplements.
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