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Nutrition

Asked by Mr Richard HoldenConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 12 January 2026UIN 101855

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has a definition of healthy eating.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

The definition of healthy eating is represented visually by the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide depicts the dietary recommendations made by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, which result from robust independent risk assessments of the scientific evidence. The Eatwell Guide represents the proportion of each of the main food groups we should consume to have a balanced diet which helps meet nutrient requirements and promote long term health at a population level. Consuming a healthy diet means making food choices that are in line with both calorie requirements and the principles of a healthy, balanced diet, as set out in the guide.

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