Official name

Food and health guidelines for Fiji.

Publication year

Fiji’s first food-based dietary guidelines were published in 1987. They were revised in 1992, 2009, 2013 and 2018. The National Food and Nutrition Centre is currently (2021) working with FAO to review the FBDGs through a series of workshops and consultations within government, academia, the private sector and the communities.

Process and stakeholders

The 2018 edition of the Fijian dietary guidelines was developed by the National Food and Nutrition Centre of the Ministry of Health (through the Plan of Action for Nutrition Steering Committee) in consultation with educators, dieticians and nutritionists, and representatives of different ministries, consumer associations, non-governmental organizations and the food industry.

Intended audience

The guidelines are directed at the healthy general public.

Food guide

Fiji’s food guide is a pineapple that comprises most of the ten dietary guidelines. The recommendation to eat a variety of local foods is placed at the centre. Other recommendations represented include doing physical activity and growing one’s own food.

Messages

• Include a variety of foods from the three food groups in each meal. Go local!
• Choose and prepare food and drinks with less salt, sugar, fat and oil.
• Be physically active to maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat more local fruits and vegetables.
• Eat healthy snacks.
• Breastfeed your baby exclusively for the first 6 months.
• Give children healthy meals and snacks.
• Stop smoking. Drink kava and alcohol responsibly.
• Drink clean and safe water.
• Grow your own food.