Test Your Knowledge

The Dietary Guidelines are not designed to determine how much food a person can eat. Instead, they provide general recommendations for what should be eaten as well as promoting healthy lifestyle.

Different people have specific daily energy needs. Human energy is measured by a unit of heat called a calorie. A faster metabolism or high levels of physical activity may require some people to have a higher-calorie diet. Those with slower metabolisms or who get little physical activity may require fewer calories. Age, gender and health conditions are also factors affecting the number of calories that reflect an adequate diet. Most nutrition facts labels provide the daily value information based on a 2,000- and/or 2,500–calorie daily diet.

Consulting the physician or dietitian can help people design a specific eating plan.