The new and improved set of Dietary Guidelines for Americans released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes three major goals for Americans who want to eat healthy and stay fit. The Department’s main three caveats are listed on its website as:
- Balance calories with physical activity to manage weight.
- Consume more of certain foods and nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood.
- Consume fewer foods with sodium (salt), saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, and refined grains.
The Department says the Guidelines are being released at a time of rising concern about the health of the American population. The Department literature states that “Poor diet and physical inactivity are the most important factors contributing to an epidemic of overweight and obesity affecting men, women, and children in all segments of our society. Even in the absence of overweight, poor diet and physical inactivity are associated with major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States.”
The Dietary Guideline recommendations are marked by two main concepts with the first being to maintain calorie balance over time to achieve and sustain a healthy weight. To curb the obesity epidemic and improve their health, many Americans must decrease the calories they consume and increase the calories they expend through physical activity. The second point the Guidelines make is that Americans currently consume too much sodium and too many calories from solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains. Instead, a healthy eating pattern emphasizes nutrient-dense foods and beverages along with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
Key recommendations intended to help the general population choose an overall healthy diet contained within the Dietary Guidelines for Americans include:
- Prevent and reduce overweight and obesity through improved eating and physical activity behaviors.
- Control total calorie intake to manage body weight. For people who are overweight or obese, this will mean consuming fewer calories from foods and beverages.
- Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors.
- Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life—childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and older age.
- Reduce daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) and further reduce intake to 1,500 mg among persons who are 51 and older and those of any age who are African American or have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease. The 1,500 mg recommendation applies to about half of the U.S. population, including children, and the majority of adults.
- Consume less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fatty acids by replacing them with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- Consume less than 300 mg per day of dietary cholesterol.
- Keep trans fat acid consumption as low as possible by limiting foods that contain synthetic sources of trans fats, such as partially hydrogenated oils, and by limiting other solid fats.
- Reduce the intake of calories from solid fats and added sugars.
- Limit the consumption of foods that contain refined grains, especially refined grain foods that contain solid fats, added sugars, and sodium.
- If alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation—up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men—and only by adults of legal drinking age.
Because of these new Dietary Guidelines and recent laws mandating caloric information in restaurants, eating out at your favorite restaurant in the coming year will likely be a different type of experience that will emphasize healthy eating more than it has in the past. One thing that is likely change quickly is the shift to more locally sourced ingredients. Today’s savvy consumers want to know where the food they eat is coming from and closer is better when it comes to fresh herbs and produce.
You are also likely to see the portion shrinking a bit as more people opt for smaller portions and shared entrees. Fixed price meals and other smaller, cost-saving meal deals are gaining in favor and will continue to be on the menu in the coming year. However, as the portions shrink the flavor is likely to increase, as more ethnic and artisan foods continue to please consumers. Even the White House has gotten involved in dietary recommendations for children lately, and childhood nutrition is moving to the top of the must-do list today as kids across the nation are being taught to choose healthier food combinations at home and when eating out. However, one thing that probably will not change at your favorite local restaurant in the coming year is the emphasis on cleanliness. Smart restaurateurs know that clean kitchens and safe food handling practices are essential to maintaining clientele and gaining new patrons too.
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