Healthy diet

Consumers in Germany have a wide range of high quality and healthy foods to choose from. Food is precious and can taste wonderful. Healthy eating is a pleasure – and a properly balanced diet is the best recipe for maintaining optimum health.

Nutrition and physical activity are inherently linked. If you lead a physically active life, you consume more energy. With the IN FORM initiative, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture promotes healthy living.

IN FORM pools together projects on healthy lifestyles from across Germany and provides information on good dietary practices for all spheres of life – from nutrition for children at school and kindergarten, to balanced diets for women during pregnancy, people at work and the elderly.

Overview of topics

"Good Food for Germany” - the Federal Government's Food and Nutrition Strategy

We are making it easier to eat good food - a benefit for us and our planet. This is the goal of the Federal Government’s Food and Nutrition Strategy. In the coalition agreement, the SPD, the Green Party and the FDP agreed to adopt a Food and Nutrition Strategy, with a particular focus on children and young people. On 17 January 2024, the Cabinet adopted the "Good Food for Germany" Food and Nutrition Strategy submitted by Federal Minister Özdemir.

Various types of fruit and vegetables are arranged next to each other sorted by colour: from green beans and cucumbers to yellow apples and peppers to red tomatoes and finally blue berries and eggplant.

IN FORM – German national initiative to promote healthy diets and physical activity

Together with the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), the BMEL has been committed to the healthy growth of children and adolescents for many years.

Childcare facilities and schools

The foundation for a healthy lifestyle is laid in childhood. When it comes to food, children are influenced by their upbringing and learn by example. Awareness about selection and quality of foods and about eating habits is established at home, and often also in childcare facilities and schools.

Quality of life in old age: a healthy diet is key

We cannot and will not do without the contribution that senior citizens make to our society and the potential they have. Their life experience and advice are important. We want them to be able to stay healthy and active , participate in social and cultural life and grow old on their own terms for as long as possible. But it is also a fact that 68.2 percent of above 65 year-old men and 56.3 percent of women in this age group are overweight or even obese. And the middle education group is the most affected for both genders in this age group.

The National Reduction and Innovation Strategy for Sugar, Fats and Salt in Processed Foods

Processed foods have become part of a modern lifestyle. Quite often, they tend to be high in sugar, fats and salt. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) wants to support consumers in choosing a health-promoting diet and ensure that processed foods become healthier.

Eine Person steht mit Einkaufskorb vor dem Kühlregal im Supermarkt

A Wholesome and Well-balanced Diet

A wholesome diet keeps you healthy and promotes physical and mental ability and well-being. But what does a healthy and tasty diet look like? Your daily diet should be well-balanced.

Korb mit frischen Gemüse, Obst, Brot, Milch, Eier, Käse, Wein

Breastfeeding: The Best Nutrition in the First Months of Life

Breastfeeding offers health benefits to both child and mother. Breastmilk provides ideal nutrition in terms of digestibility and the nutrients it contains. Moreover, it also contains substances that are effective against bacteria, help reduce inflammation and strengthen the infant’s immune system.

Baby beim Stillen an der mütterlichen Brust

Learning German via the Topics of Eating, Drinking and Exercise

And that is exactly what the IN FORM cooperation projects EBALPHI, run jointly with the Federal Centre for Food and Nutrition and ALPHItEB of Europauniversität Flensburg, have been doing. EBALPHI is the German abbreviation for the name of the project, which promotes dietary education and exercise in the context of literacy and integration. The German abbreviation ALPHItEB is short for “Literacy and integration through dietary education and promotion of exercise”.