A healthier plate, with foods you know

Published 21 October 2026 · HCMC information desk

Healthy eating does not have to start with unfamiliar foods. Jamaica’s Ministry of Health & Wellness describes a balanced approach using the Caribbean’s six food groups: staples, vegetables, fruit, foods from animals, legumes and nuts, and fats and oils.

Variety and appropriate portions matter. The Ministry also encourages drinking water and reducing salty, sugary and highly processed foods. Its food guide offers a useful starting point for conversations about your everyday meals.

If you live with diabetes, kidney disease or another condition that affects your diet, ask your clinician how general guidance applies to you. This article does not replace a personal nutrition plan.