A restricted diet, if high in saturated fats, sugars, animal
products and processed carbohydrates, is associated with many
modern diseases1 while diverse diets are considered to be
healthy;2 and an effective indicator of food security.3 Dietary
guidelines recommend balanced consumption from a number
of core food groups to ensure adequate intake of essential
nutrients to promote good health4 and prevent noncommunicable
chronic diseases. The availability of a diverse
diet reflects political and economic factors, such as the global
trade in foods and national GDP.5
Industrialization has brought many Thais greater dietary
diversity as well as more pre-processed foods and more dietary
sugar, fat and animal products.6 These dietary changes are
reflected in an epidemiological transition with increasing
obesity, Type II diabetes, hypertension, stroke, hyperlipidaemia,
coronary heart disease and cancer.