Dietary/ˈdaɪəteri/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Health Emphasis Emphasizes importance of food choices to maintain health. A balanced dietary plan reduces health risks. Pro Tip 2/3Eating Patterns Describes consistent food-eating behavior over time. Her doctor discussed her dietary patterns during the check-up. Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Calories 'Dietary' refers to food types and nutrients, not just calorie counting. Dietary choices include more vegetables and whole grains.