The dietary patterns in the table below provide the nutrients and energy needed by all men and women of average height with sedentary to moderate activity levels. Additional serves of the five food groups or unsaturated spreads and oils or discretionary choices are needed only by adults who are taller, more active or in the higher end of a particular age band, to meet additional energy requirements.
| Vegetables & legumes/beans | Fruit | Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain | Lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans | Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives (mostly reduced fat) | Approx. number of additional serves from the five food groups or discretionary choices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended average daily number of serves from each of the five food groups* | Additional serves for taller or more active men and women | |||||
| Men | ||||||
| 19-50 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 ½ | 0-3 |
| 51-70 | 5 ½ | 2 | 6 | 2 ½ | 2 ½ | 0-2 ½ |
| 70+ | 5 | 2 | 4 ½ | 2 ½ | 3 ½ | 0-2 ½ |
| Women | ||||||
| 19-50 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 ½ | 2 ½ | 0-2 ½ |
| 51-70 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0-2 ½ |
| 70+ | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0-2 |
| Pregnant | 5 | 2 | 8 ½ | 3 ½ | 2 ½ | 0-2 ½ |
| Lactating | 7 ½ | 2 | 9 | 2 ½ | 2 ½ | 0-2 ½ |
* Includes an allowance for unsaturated spreads or oils, nuts or seeds (4 serves [28-40g] per day for men less than 70 years of age; 2 serves [14-20g] per day for women and older men.)