2.2: Understanding the Dietary Guidelines
- Page ID
- 20933
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Learning Objective
- Identify recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The first US dietary recommendations were set by the National Academy of Sciences in 1941. The recommended dietary allowances (RDA) were first established out of concern that America’s overseas World War II troops were not consuming enough daily nutrients to maintain good health. The first Food and Nutrition Board was created in 1941, and in the same year set recommendations for the adequate intakes of caloric energy and eight essential nutrients. These were disseminated to officials responsible for food relief for armed forces and civilians supporting the war effort.
Since 1980, the dietary guidelines have been reevaluated and updated every five years by the advisory committees of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Instituting nationwide standard policies provides consistency across organizations and allows healthcare workers, nutrition educators, schools, and local governments to improve nutrition and subsequently the health of their respective populations. The guidelines are continually revised to keep up with new scientific evidence-based conclusions on the importance of nutritional adequacy and physical activity to overall health. While dietary recommendations set prior to 1980 focused only on preventing nutrient inadequacy, the current dietary guidelines have the additional goals of promoting health, reducing chronic disease, and decreasing the prevalence of overweight and obesity.
The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The goal of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to provide "clear, actionable, transparent, evidence-based guidance empowering Americans to select foods that support health and reduce chronic disease".1 The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include the following recommendations:1-3
- Eat the Right Amount for You
- pay attention to portion sizes, particularly for foods and beverages higher in calories
- choose water or unsweetened beverages to accompany meals and snacks
- Prioritize Protein Foods at Every Meal
- consume a variety of protein foods from animal sources and plant sources
- choose baked, broiled, roasted, stir-fried, or grilled cooking methods (instead of deep-fried)
- Consume Dairy
- choose whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, or nonfat dairy products with no added sugars
- Eat Vegetables and Fruits Throughout the Day
- include a variety of vegetables and fruits
- fresh, frozen, canned, cooked, and dried vegetables and fruits are all good options
- Incorporate Healthy Fats
- saturated fat consumption should not exceed 10% of total daily calories
- Focus on Whole Grains
- prioritize fiber-rich whole grains
- reduce the consumption of highly processed, refined carbohydrates
- Limit Highly Processed Foods, Added Sugars, and Refined Carbohydrates
- avoid highly processed packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat foods that have added sugars and sodium
- avoid sugar-sweetened beverages
- Limit Alcoholic Beverages
- consume less alcohol for better overall health
In addition to the Dietary Guidelines, all Americans, regardless of age, should strive to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans which discuss the proven benefits of physical activity and outline the amounts and types of physical activity recommended for different ages and populations. Additional information about the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans will be covered in Chapter 11.
Key Takeaways
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are based on evolving scientific evidence and are updated every five years.
- The goal of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to provide evidence-based guidance on what to eat and drink to support health and reduce chronic disease.
- A healthy dietary pattern stays within calorie limits and includes a variety of protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains.
- A healthy dietary pattern limits highly processed foods, added sugars, refined carbohydrates, saturated fat, sodium, and alcoholic beverages.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Scientific Foundation for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. January 2026. Available at realfood.gov.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. January 2026. Available at realfood.gov.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Daily Servings By Calorie Level, 2025-2030. January 2026. Available at realfood.gov.