USDA releases new Dietary Guidelines for Americans!

Because more than one-third of children and two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, the USDA has released has released its 7th edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  The new version takes a stab at addressing our obesity crisis by placing a stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity. The Guidelines contain 23 Key Recommendations for the general population and 6 Key Recommendations for specific population groups, such as women who are pregnant.  The Recommendations are the most important messages within the Guidelines and are intended as an integrated set of advice to achieve an overall healthy eating pattern.

Some of the new tips are as follows:

• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread and frozen meals– and chose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

It seems like the USDA is headed in the right direction with their new recommendations.  At SOSMentor, we are already teaching these messages to our students.  The release of this edition of the Dietary Guidelines comes at a critical point for America’s health and prosperity.  We are in the middle of an obesity epidemic and by adopting the USDA’s new recommendations, we can live healthier lives and contribute to a lowering of health-care costs, helping to strengthen America’s long-term economic competitiveness and overall productivity.