WHO releases updated guidelines on defining healthy diets
WHO releases updated guidelines on defining healthy diets

Happy New Year, and welcome to the fourth edition of the Healthy Living Guide! 2023 was an exciting year in the Department of Nutrition, as we celebrated the launch of the Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health. Aligned with its name and location, the Center is committed to researching ways to apply mindfulness to improve well-being at the population level—not just for individuals, but across large groups globally. Mindful eating and its impact on both personal and planetary health is a core focus of the Center—a theme you’ll find integrated throughout this year’s Guide.
You’ll also see research highlights and tips related to our annual categories of nutrition, physical activity, and sleep, including the latest findings on ultra-processed foods and mental health, turning up the tunes and moving with Zumba, and evidence on different sleep “chronotypes” and health.
Hint: the answers can be found throughout last year’s Healthy Living Guide. Access the full edition here if you haven’t checked it out!
Make most of your meal vegetables and fruits – ½ of your plate.
Aim for color and variety, and remember that potatoes don’t count as vegetables on the Healthy Eating Plate because of their negative impact on blood sugar.
Fish, poultry, beans, and nuts are all healthy, versatile protein sources—they can be mixed into salads, and pair well with vegetables on a plate. Limit red meat, and avoid processed meats such as bacon and sausage.
Choose healthy vegetable oils like olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and others, and avoid partially hydrogenated oils, which contain unhealthy trans fats. Remember that low-fat does not mean “healthy.”
Skip sugary drinks, limit milk and dairy products to one to two servings per day, and limit juice to a small glass per day.
The red figure running across the Healthy Eating Plate’s placemat is a reminder that staying active is also important in weight control.
WHO releases updated guidelines on defining healthy diets
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