Source:  Southeast Dairy Association, 2/9/11


The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) were released at a joint USDA/HHS press conference on Monday, January 31 in Washington D.C. Since more than one-third of children and more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, the 7th edition of DGA places stronger emphasis on balancing calories with physical activity, and encourages Americans to make more nutrient-rich food choices that contain less sodium, saturated fats and transfats, added sugars and refined grains.

The overarching themes of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines are as follows:
• Maintain calorie balance to achieve and sustain a healthy weight.  People who are most successful at achieving and maintaining a healthy weight do so through continued attention to con¬suming only enough calories from foods and bever¬ages to meet their needs and by being physically active. Programs like Fuel Up to Play 60 are a great way to help America's students eat right and stay active.

• Focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods and beverages. A well-balanced eating pattern limits portion sizes, sodium, solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains and emphasizes nutrient-dense foods and beverages, including vegetables; fruits; whole grains; fat-free or low-fat milk, cheese and yogurt; seafood; lean meats and poultry; eggs; beans and peas, and nuts and seeds.

Some key recommendations include:
• Find ways to make nutrient-rich foods portable – Whether it's low-fat string cheese or reduced-fat yogurt to dip with vegetables, having a nutritious snack on hand when busy and away from home is a great way to avoid the empty-calorie foods that may be found in vending machines or convenience store shelves.

• Start young to build healthy habits that last a lifetime – The Dietary Guidelines note that it is important for young children to establish the habit of drinking milk as those who consume milk at an early age will be more likely to do so as adults. Additionally, the daily recommendation of dairy for children ages 4-8 was increased from 2 to 2.5 servings because dairy foods offer three of the four nutrients (calcium, potassium and vitamin D) of public concern.

• Start small but think big – The new Guidelines call for some major changes – such as meeting recommendations for all five food groups, cutting salt intake, and decreasing calories from solid fats and added sugars.

• Wake up to the benefits of breakfast – The new Guidelines specifically highlight eating a nutritious breakfast to help people meet nutritional recommendations. Research shows regular breakfast consumption is associated with higher intake of several vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C.