What is the difference between dietary diversity and diet quality?

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Dietary diversity is one dimension of diet quality. Diverse diets can still lack macronutrient balance and/or moderation, which are other dimensions of diet quality. Diets lack balance when they are too high or too low in fat, protein or carbohydrate. Diets lack moderation when they include excessive consumption of energy (calories), salt or free sugars. Food group diversity does not ensure balance or moderation. Food group diversity also does not in itself ensure that the carbohydrates, proteins and fats consumed are of high quality. Dietary diversity is, however, associated with better micronutrient density (micronutrients per 100 calories) and micronutrient adequacy of diets.

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