TABLE 7.
Key messages about legumes and nuts conveyed by more than 5 countries—types and examples
| Number1 | % (of 90) | |
|---|---|---|
| Any key message that includes legumes | 50 | 55.6 |
| Any key message that includes nuts | 17 | 18.9 |
| Key message about legumes as a unique dietary component | 24 | 26.7 |
| “Eat dry beans, split peas, lentils and soya regularly” (South Africa) | — | — |
| “Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from these five groups every day: … plenty of vegetables, including different types and colours, and legumes/beans” (Australia) | — | — |
| Legumes in protein food message together with animal-source foods | 23 | 25.6 |
| “Eat pulses, fish, poultry, eggs and a little meat regularly” (Nepal) | — | — |
| Nuts mentioned in protein food message | 5 | 5.6 |
| “A healthy eating pattern includes … A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), and nuts, seeds, and soy products” (United States) | — | — |
| Legumes or nuts in a vegetable or fat message | 6 | 6.7 |
| “Eat five servings of vegetables, legumes and fruits every day. The ideal would be to eat three servings of vegetables and/or legumes and two servings of fruit” (Austria) | — | — |
| “Use good fats, such as unsaturated fatty acids (olive oil), omega-6 (sunflower oil and soya oil) and omega-3 (nuts and soya oil and fatty fish)” (Spain) | — | — |
| Legumes (soy) mentioned in a message with dairy | 6 | 6.7 |
| “Consume milk, beans, or dairy or soybean products every day” (China) | — | — |
| Eat legumes daily | 14 | 15.6 |
| “Eat beans and tortillas every day” (Guatemala) | — | — |
| Eat legumes X times a week (X = several times, 2, 3, 4, or >4) | 9 | 10.0 |
| “Eat pulses (peas, beans and lentils) at least 4 times a week” (Seychelles) | — | — |
| Substitution message2 | 6 | 6.7 |
| “Have meat alternatives such as beans, lentils and tofu often” (Canada) | — | — |
| Not mentioned but implied in diversity message (by reference to food guide)3 | 10 | 11.1 |
| “Eat foods from each food group every day to have a complete diet” (Portugal) | — | — |
| No key message conveyed about legumes | 40 | 40.4 |
| No key message conveyed about nuts | 73 | 81.1 |
1Sums to more than 90 because some countries have multiple messages related to legumes and nuts. Also some key messages contain more than 1 idea and are counted for both (e.g., “Eat beans and tortillas every day” is counted both as a “Legumes as a unique dietary component” and an “Eat daily” message).
2There are diverse substitution messages; for example, eat legumes instead of meat, or instead of “fatty meat”; eat nuts instead of unhealthy snacks, etc.
3Considered to be implied when a key messages directs the reader to eat all food groups, and legumes, or less commonly legumes and nuts, are a separate food group in the food guide.