The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were just released this morning. Yes, we realize that it’s already 2011, but creating these types of recommendations, and reviewing all the current research takes A LOT of time.
I’m in the process of reading the 100+ page document, but I’ll give you some of the highlights.
A major goal of the recommendations is to get control of our growing obesity epidemic. If you think about it, most of the recommendations are common sense…the kind of things my mother and grandmother already knew. Unfortunately we younger generations have either forgotten, or choose to ignore, this common sense.
So what are the USDA and HHS recommending we do? Well, it reads like what every dietitian I know has been preaching all along: - Balancing calories and activity… and get more active!
- Eating healthier foods (veggies, fruit, whole grains, low and fat free dairy, seafood)
- Eating less bad stuff (sodium, saturated & trans fats, refined grains, added sugars)
- Enjoy food, but eat less and watch your portion sizes
- Fill ½ your plate with vegetables and fruit… colorful ones in particular
- Switch to fat free or low fat milk
- Choose foods with lower sodium (read labels on foods like soups & frozen meals)
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks
Common sense, right? As French philosopher Voltaire once wrote, “Common sense is not so common.” The current state of our nation’s health and weight has shown that to be true.
These recommendations will help fuel and guide many programs that will hopefully educate/re-educate everyone about what to do and how to do it. I’m excited to see what will happen.
Now I have a big document to read, I’ll let you know what else I find as I work my way through it.
- Renee
Labels: Breaking News, Renee, USDA
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