We believe all New Zealanders should have access to accurate information about food and nutrition to help them to make the best choices for a healthy lifestyle.
This section helps you to make those healthy choices by providing the facts and figures on a wide range of nutrition topics. All of the information in this section has been written by degree-qualified nutritionists or dietitians. Use the menu bar on the left to browse through the content.
Our bodies need energy to grow and repair themselves, keep warm and do physical activity. Energy comes from food and drinks, in particular from carbohydrates, protein, fat, and alcohol. Carbohydrates, protein, and fat are essential which means we need them in our diet to survive and function, whereas alcohol is non-essential.
People eat foods and not single nutrients so that’s why it is important to know which foods provide which nutrients. Our food choices determine the combination of nutrients we eat.
Traditionally, Kiwi meals have centred around ‘meat and three veg’. Roast lamb, potatoes, and vegetables have been a favourite for generations. Nowadays, this has been joined by influences from overseas, such as chilli con carne, burritos, or butter chicken. But what they all have in common is they contain a variety of food groups.
Last modified: July 8, 2024
