Draft Australian Dietary Guidelines (PDF, 3MB) - Eat For Health

2.1.4.2 InfantsExclusive breastfeeding is recommended for around the first six months of age, after which solid(pureed or spoon) foods of suitable texture can be introduced. There is no particular order orrate for the introduction of new foods, other than the first foods should be rich in iron.Breastfeeding should continue until 12 months and beyond for as long as the mother and childdesire (for more information, see the Infant Feeding Guidelines for Health Workers [133]), Foodchoices should be varied to ensure adequate energy (kilojoule) and nutrient supply.When introducing solids (spoon foods) to infants, parents and carers should ensure that a widevariety of nutritious foods of different colours, suitable textures and types is offered. This willprovide the additional nutrients required as infants grow and the variety will help to increaseacceptance of different nutritious foods. It is also more likely to improve the acceptance of avaried diet during childhood. Hard foods, such as nuts, should not be offered to children until theyare over three years of age and they are sufficiently mature to reduce the risk of choking.2.1.4.3 AdultsMales living alone are at particular risk of not eating a wide variety of nutritious foods. Analysis ofthe 1995 National Nutrition Survey [37] showed that in nearly all age groups adult males consumedsignificantly fewer types of foods than other groups.2.1.4.4 Older peopleThe diet of older people is generally more varied than that of younger groups [44]. However thefrail elderly are at increased risk of consuming monotonous, limited diets due to factors such asreduced mobility, poor dentition and poverty which may reduce access to a range of fresh foods.2.1.4.5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslandersLimited data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dietary intake are available. Very restricteddietary patterns - in which over 50% of energy (kilojoule) intake was derived by meat, flour andsugar - have been described in remote Aboriginal communities [134] with relatively little changeobserved recently [135]. However the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people livein urban areas and their most significant dietary issues tend to be also experienced by all people inlower socioeconomic groups.DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 30