What is the Eatwell Guide Used For?

October 31, 2025 •

3 min read

The Eatwell Guide was introduced in the UK in 2016, replacing the Eatwell Plate, to reflect updated government recommendations on healthy eating. This visual tool is a public health policy resource used to define advice on achieving a balanced diet. Its primary purpose is to simplify complex nutritional information into an easily digestible format for the public.

Quick Summary

The Eatwell Guide is a visual policy tool that illustrates the types and proportions of foods needed for a healthy, balanced diet. It defines government recommendations and helps people plan meals, shop for food, and make healthier everyday choices by breaking down dietary needs into five core food groups.

Key Points

Visual Tool: The Eatwell Guide is a graphic that shows the five food groups and their recommended proportions for a healthy diet.
Five Food Groups: It is segmented into fruit and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, proteins, dairy and alternatives, and oils and spreads.
Healthy Proportions: The guide demonstrates that fruits and vegetables, along with starchy carbs, should form the largest part of your diet.
Balanced Intake: The proportions represent the balance of food to aim for over a day or week, not necessarily every single meal.
Healthier Choices: It serves as a practical resource for making better decisions when planning meals, cooking, and shopping for food.
Reduce Fat, Salt, and Sugar: A separate section outside the main plate reminds people to limit consumption of high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods.
Promotes Hydration: The guide encourages drinking 6-8 glasses of fluid daily, with water and low-fat milk being preferred options.

What is the Eatwell Guide? An Overview

Developed by Public Health England in partnership with other UK health bodies, the Eatwell Guide is the official healthy eating model in the UK. It offers a clear, visual breakdown of food groups and recommended proportions for a balanced diet. Following these guidelines helps individuals get necessary nutrients for good health and lowers the risk of diet-related diseases.

The Five Food Groups and Their Importance

The guide divides food into five main groups, each with a suggested proportion of your daily or weekly diet. This balance is crucial for getting the right mix of nutrients, fibre, and energy. The balance should be achieved over time, not necessarily in every meal.

Fruit and Vegetables: This group should make up over a third of your diet and provides essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Aim for at least five portions daily, including various types and forms.
Potatoes, Bread, Rice, Pasta and Other Starchy Carbohydrates: Also making up over a third of your intake, this group is a primary energy source. Choose wholegrain options like wholewheat pasta and brown rice for more fibre.
Beans, Pulses, Fish, Eggs, Meat and Other Proteins: Provides protein for body maintenance and growth, plus key vitamins and minerals. Include at least two fish portions weekly, with one being oily, and opt for leaner meats. Pulses are also good lower-fat protein choices.
Dairy and Alternatives: A source of calcium for bone health and protein. Select lower-fat and lower-sugar versions. Choose unsweetened, calcium-fortified options for alternatives.
Oils and Spreads: The smallest section, highlighting the need for small amounts. Prioritize unsaturated oils like vegetable or olive oil over saturated fats.

Practical Uses of the Eatwell Guide

The Eatwell Guide is a practical tool for everyday use, aiding in:

Meal planning: Constructing balanced meals.
Food shopping: Making healthier purchase decisions.
Cooking: Encouraging healthier methods and reduced use of fat, salt, and sugar.
Hydration: Recommending 6-8 glasses of fluid daily, including water and lower-fat milk.
Reading food labels: Choosing products lower in fat, salt, and sugar.

The 'Foods to Eat Less Often' Segment

Foods high in fat, salt, and sugar, such as cakes and sugary drinks, are shown outside the main guide. These should be consumed less often and in small amounts as they are not necessary for a healthy diet.

Eatwell Guide vs. Other Dietary Models

The Eatwell Guide shares similarities with other national food guides globally but has distinct features.


Feature	Eatwell Guide (UK)	MyPlate (USA)
Visual Representation	Circular plate showing five food groups and an outer segment for high fat/sugar foods.	Segmented plate with four main food groups and a separate dairy cup.
Food Groups	Fruit & Veg, Starchy Carbs, Proteins, Dairy & Alt., Oils & Spreads.	Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, and Dairy.
Proportions	Starchy carbs and fruits/vegetables are the largest sections, over one-third each.	Equal-sized sections for fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins; dairy is separate.
Key Message	Achieve a balanced diet over a day or week from the five food groups in suggested proportions.	Focuses on calorie balance and adjusting intake of specific food groups.
Hydration	Explicitly advises 6-8 glasses of fluid daily.	Mentions drinking water, less prominent visually.

Conclusion: Empowering Healthier Choices

The Eatwell Guide is a crucial public health tool designed to simplify complex nutritional advice. It is accessible for most individuals over five and aids in daily choices like meal planning and shopping. By outlining the five food groups, their proportions, hydration advice, and limiting high-fat, salt, and sugar items, the guide helps people build and maintain a healthier diet, supporting better long-term health outcomes.

Additional Tips for Following the Eatwell Guide

To adopt the Eatwell Guide's principles, start with small changes like swapping sugary drinks for water or choosing wholegrain options. Focus on achieving balance over a week for a more sustainable approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Eatwell Guide serves to provide a clear, visual representation of a healthy, balanced diet, showing the types and proportions of foods and drinks that should be consumed. More details can be found on {Link: Food Standards Agency https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/the-eatwell-guide-and-resources}.

The Eatwell Guide applies to most people over the age of two, regardless of their weight, dietary restrictions, or ethnic origin. It does not apply to children under two or those with special medical or dietary needs.

You should use the Eatwell Guide to achieve a balance over the course of a day or a week, rather than worrying about getting the proportions right at every single meal.

The five main food groups are: fruit and vegetables; starchy carbohydrates; beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins; dairy and alternatives; and oils and spreads. The full list can be found on {Link: Food Standards Agency https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/the-eatwell-guide-and-resources}.

Foods high in fat, salt, and sugar, such as cakes and sugary drinks, are placed outside the main plate to show they are not essential and should be eaten less often and in small amounts. More information is available on {Link: Food Standards Agency https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/the-eatwell-guide-and-resources}.

The Eatwell Guide recommends drinking 6 to 8 glasses of fluid each day. Suitable fluids include water and lower-fat milk. For a more detailed list, visit {Link: Food Standards Agency https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/the-eatwell-guide-and-resources}.

The guide recommends wholegrain varieties because they are higher in fibre and nutrients, and are digested more slowly, which helps you feel full for longer.