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5 nutrition essentials every foodservice business should know

Feeding people is no longer just about taste, nutrition, and the dining experience.

Foodservice operators have an important responsibility to support their guests’ needs, from taste and nutrition to right portions and sustainability. We’ve put together five nutrition essentials to help you improve your expertise, including details on how to build a balanced plate and some practical tips you can use to make your offerings more nutritious every day.

Explore the five essentials below for practical nutrition guidance. You can also download them, along with our balanced plate guide, to keep as a handy reference.

Want a convenient way to keep nutrition at the forefront of your cooking? Download a checklist of these nutrition essentials and a guide to building a balanced plate so you can keep these resources handy while planning your menu.

Build a balanced plate 

Balanced plate: half vegetables and fruit, quarter whole grains, quarter protein; water.

Choose fibre-full carbs

choose fibre-rich carbs; bowl with avocado, tomatoes, sprouts, and brown rice.

Add lean protein 

Add lean protein:grilled chicken, eggs, and tofu on a plate.

Be mindful with fats & oils 

guidance on mindful use of fats and oils.

 

Sources:

Healthy Eating Plate, The Nutrition Source. The Nutrition Source - Harvard Chan School. Nutritionsource.Hsph. Harvard.Edu/Healthy-Eating-Plate/ (13 July 2026).

The Eatwell Guide. Nhs.Uk. Www.Nhs. Uk/Live-Well/Eat-Well/Food-Guidelines-and-Food-Labels/the-Eatwell-Guide/ (13 July 2026).

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dietary Guidelines. Www.Fao.Org/Nutrition/Education/Dietary-Guidelines/Home/En/ (13 July 2026).

The Facts on Fiber. Harvard Health. Www.Health.Harvard.Edu/Diet-and-Nutrition/the-Facts-on-Fiber (13 July 2026).

Healthy Diet. World Health Organization. Www.Who.Int/News-Room/Fact-Sheets/Detail/Healthy-Diet (13 July 2026).

Maleky, F., et al. Adhering to Recommended Dietary Protein Intake for Optimizing Human Health Benefits versus Exceeding Levels. RSC Adv. 2025, 15, 9230–9242.

Protein, The Nutrition Source. The Nutrition Source - Harvard Chan School. Nutritionsource.Hsph.Harvard. Edu/What-Should-You-Eat/Protein/ (13 July 2026).

Are Fats so Bad? Harvard Health. Www.Health.Harvard.Edu/Healthy-Aging-and-Longevity/Are-Fats-so-Bad (13 July 2026).

Omega-3 Foods: Incorporating Healthy Fats into Your Diet. Harvard Health. Www.Health.Harvard.Edu/Diet-and-Nutrition/Omega-3-Foods-Incorporating-Healthy-Fats-into-Your-Diet (13 July 2026).