Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010

Dietary guidelines for American are reviewed and revised at 5 year intervals through a collaboration between the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services.  While the finalized 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are not yet published, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, which outlines the Committee's recommendations, has been made publicly available.  Some of the points addressed and recommendations are very briefly outlined below.

The Committee Report indicates that on average Americans consume too few vegetables, fruits, high-fiber whole grains, low-fat milk products and seafood, while consuming to much added sugars, sodium, solid fats, and refined grains.  To combat this current situation, the Committee Report recommends a total diet that is energy-balanced and nutrient-dense while being flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of tastes and food preferences.  To accomplish this, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Committee outlined several steps we can all take:

• Reduce overall calorie intake.
• Meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
• Shift food consumption patters to a more plant-based diet that emphasizes vegetables, cooked dry beans and peas, fruits, nuts, and whole grains.  As part of this shift, the Committee recommends increasing seafood and low-fat milk product consumption and eating only moderate amounts of lean meats, poultry and eggs.
• Dramatically reduce the amount of added sugars and solid fats we consume and also lower intake of sodium and refined grains.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Committee further indicated that more than individual efforts will be needed to achieve the necessary changes.  Rather, the Committee believes that a coordinated plan involving all sectors of society is needed to successfully change the overall food environment.  Some of the changes suggested by the Committee include:

• Improve nutritional literacy and cooking skills
• Enhance school health, nutrition, and physical education programs
• Develop financial incentives to purchase healthier foods
• Improve the availability of fresh produce
• Increase the availability of seafood to all segments of the population
• Encourage the food industry to offer health-promoting foods

It is good to see that the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is close to completion.   While the entire Committee Report is quite long, the Executive Summary provides an excellent overveiw of the Committee's recommendations including recommended changes in the dietary intake of sodium (down to 1,500 mg/day from the current 2,300 mg/day), saturated fat (less than 7% of total calories), and seafood (consume at least 2 servings per week that provide an averge of 250 mg/day of omega-3 fatty acids) among others.  It is likely that many of the recommendations suggested by the Committee will be difficult to meet both by individual Americans and the food industry; however, if these goals can be met, these recommendations have the ability to reduce future obesity incidence and lead to healthier lives for Americans.

My easy diet plan is an excellent and delicious way to start managing your weight, whether you are a looking to lose a few pounds or maintain a healthy weight.