Healthy lifestyle and sustainable behaviors: a proposal for the food pyramid in the Brazilian context

Abstract

Objectives

Food graphics are visual representations that help many stakeholders follow nutrition recommendations, improve their lifestyle, and follow sustainable behaviors. There is a paucity of recent evidence on the use of food graphics, and this review provides the foundation for adapting a food graphic for the Brazilian context.

Methods

A narrative review of the literature on food graphics, healthy eating, and sustainability was performed. The official Food Agriculture Organization/United Nations website was used to identify food guides the respective graphics/icons, key messages, and food groups.

Results

Many countries use food graphics to educate people on healthy eating, lifestyle, and sustainable behaviors. In the food guides we analyzed, the most representative food graphics included circular and hierarchical types. Hierarchical types were represented by a variety of names, with pyramids or triangles the most common forms. Core recommendations on healthy food choices were based on the WHO and EAT-Lancet. Seven food groups were identified according to the country's socio-cultural and economic context. Additionally, water and other sugar-free beverages, unconventional food plants, and physical activity were included in the graphic. The majority of countries’ food graphics named each food group according to the main food. For all countries improvements in lifestyle behaviors was the key message, while one quarter of countries included sustainability messages.

Conclusions

Food graphics, such as pyramids, represent an important tool to assist all stakeholders to follow dietary recommendations. These graphics provide the information needed to recognize and put into practice individual and social behaviors that promote the improved individual and community health of future generations.