Eating a healthy diet throughout the life course helps prevent all forms of malnutrition as well as a range of noncommunicable diseases and related conditions. However, increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have all led to a shift in dietary patterns. People are now consuming more foods that are higher in energy, fat, free sugars and salt/sodium, and many people are not eating enough fruits, vegetables and other dietary fibers such as whole grains.
The exact composition of a varied, balanced and healthy diet varies according to individual characteristics (eg age, gender, lifestyle and degree of physical activity), cultural context, locally available foods and dietary habits. However, the basic principles of what constitutes a healthy diet remain the same.