General information only. This Parent Resource summarizes WHO healthy-diet principles and does not prescribe an individual child’s diet.
What four principles does WHO use?
WHO identifies adequacy, balance, moderation and diversity as four core principles that can underpin healthy diets.
Does one diet pattern fit every child?
No. WHO states that the exact make-up of a healthy diet varies with factors including age, lifestyle, cultural context, locally available foods and dietary customs.
Why does childhood matter?
WHO notes that healthy dietary practices begin early in life and that dietary behaviours and preferences established during childhood and adolescence often continue into adulthood.
What food pattern forms the foundation?
WHO emphasizes a variety of minimally processed and unprocessed foods and describes a healthy diet as one that is also safe from microbial and chemical contaminants.
General principles are not a personalized nutrition plan. Individual dietary requirements can differ with age, health and other circumstances.
References
- World Health Organization. Healthy diet, 26 January 2026.