Belgium further tightens dietary guidelines

Belgium’s Superior Health Council (HGR) has published new dietary recommendations. The guidelines are scientifically substantiated, tailored to Belgian eating habits, and are intended to promote better health. The Council has issued seventeen recommendations to help consumers make healthier food choices.

Less salt, sugar, and processed meat

The recommendations were developed by independent experts using a European methodology adapted to the Belgian context. Based on health data, the experts identified conditions that are major causes of premature death and chronic disease, including certain heart diseases, strokes, and some types of cancer.

The Council recommends eating at least 125 grams of whole grains every day and replacing refined grain products whenever possible. The recommendations also focus on reducing the consumption of red and processed meat. Consumers are advised to eat no more than 300 grams of unprocessed red meat per week and no more than 30 grams of processed red meat.

The HGR also recommends eating legumes several times a week, at least 300 grams of vegetables and 250 grams of seasonal fruit every day, 20 to 30 grams of unsalted nuts daily, and between 250 and 500 milliliters of milk or dairy products each day. In addition, the Council advises limiting salt intake to five grams per day. The HGR also recommends consuming as few sugar-sweetened beverages and foods with added sugars as possible. Weekly consumption should include at least 200 grams of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, including oily fish at least once a week. The Council recommends drinking 1 to 2 liters of fluids each day, preferably water. Coffee and tea can also be part of that daily intake.

Health and sustainability

The HGR also links its dietary recommendations to an environmentally responsible eating pattern. The Council promotes a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, nuts, whole grains, fish, dairy products, and legumes, while limiting red meat, processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, candy, and refined grains. It also advises against drinking alcohol and recommends limiting the consumption of ultra-processed foods as much as possible.

The Council also highlights the importance of eating together and of what it refers to as culinary capital. By culinary capital, the HGR means the way nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, and eating habits are connected to social status and cultural identity. According to the Council, changes in eating habits should be introduced gradually and should align with existing cultural traditions.

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