Healthy Diet: A Definition for the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to propose a definition of “healthy diets” and provide related evidence, thus permitting the alignment of terminology for the Food Systems Summit and beyond. Diets are combinations of foods and beverages (referred to as foods hereafter, for simplicity) consumed by individuals. However, the specific combination of foods that make up healthy diets is context-specific and depends on many cultural, economic, and other factors. We provide a definition and overview of approaches that have been used to translate this into food-based recommendations. We also provide a brief review highlighting evidence, gaps and controversies related to defining healthy diets. The evidence for potential solutions to making healthy diets more available, affordable, and their production environmentally sustainable is the subject of much literature (Herforth 2020; Chaudhary et al. 2018; Smetana et al. 2019; Badiane and Makombe 2020; Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation 2020), and is not discussed here in detail.