Test Your Knowledge

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is an initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to encourage people to eat healthy and to engage in regular physical exercise. The goal of the guidelines is to help people maintain a healthy weight and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and some times of cancer. They are based on the most current scientific research and federal law requires that they be reviewed and updated every five years.

The guidelines were first issued in 1980 and apply to people over the age of 2. The sixth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released in 2005 (after previous updates in 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000) and emphasizes the importance of controlling weight to reduce obesity. 

The newest version of these guidelines places increased emphasis on reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity. These guidelines are based on what is known as the “ABCs of health.” This includes the following:

• Aim for fitness. Aim for a healthy weight and be physically active each day.
  
  
• Build a healthy base. Let the Food Guide Pyramid help determine food choices from the basic food groups (e.g., grains, fruits and vegetables) and keep foods safe to eat.
  

  

• Choose sensibly. Choose a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat. Food and beverages should contain only moderate levels of sugars and be low in salt. In addition, alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation or avoided altogether.

The information in the guidelines also is divided into topics:

• Topics 1 through 3: Suggestions for consuming nutrient-dense foods to meet energy needs, maintaining a healthy weight and incorporating physical activity into the daily routine.
  
  
• Topic 4: Examines the right dietary balance encompassing the major food groups, including fruits and vegetables, proteins, whole grains and milk products.
  
  
• Topics 5 through 7: Guidelines for choosing foods with the right amounts of fats, carbohydrates, and sodium and potassium.
  
  
• Topic 8: Urges moderation when consuming alcoholic beverages.
  
  
• Topic 9: Encourages food handling and cooking techniques intended to encourage food safety and minimize the likelihood of foodborne illness.

The guidelines are used to define national nutrition policies and are used to determine the content of federal nutrition programs, such as the National Child Nutrition Programs and the Elderly Nutrition Program. They are also used to create educational materials.

Experts generally recommend incorporating these guidelines into the Food Guide Pyramid, a method of categorization that helps people determine how many servings are needed from the various food groups.

Learning to read and interpret the labels on food packaging also can help people to plan healthier diets.

The Dietary Guidelines are designed to be flexible and focused on a person’s long-term habits rather than concentrating narrowly on a single meal or a single day. Vegetarians and people who prefer certain types of ethnic foods may use these guidelines as easily as those with more mainstream American diet preferences. It is important to remember that these guidelines are only effective if people follow them. Occasionally, it is acceptable to stray from the guidelines and indulge in less healthy foods or to skip a workout session or two. However, such slips should be the exception rather than the rule.