2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

It’s here! It’s here! It’s finally here!

Okay, maybe it’s not something you may get excited about. But you should. I’ve been eagerly awaiting for this release. What is it? The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Did I lose you? I hope not. This is important stuff. Really – it is. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a dietitian. Okay, I may be a bit more excited than you because I’m a dietitian. But trust me this is important stuff.

Why?

Well for one, nutrition information can be confusing don’t ya think? I mean how do you know what information is correct and not the next big fad? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans helps with all that. The guidelines are published so you can know what to eat and be healthy without questioning the validity of the information. The guidelines are updated every 5 year to keep up with current research. So this stuff is the real deal – no magic cures, just the facts.

Here’s what  I like about the 2015 Dietary Guidelines:

• Emphasis is on the importance of eating patterns as a whole not on individual nutrients. It’s about the whole picture, not just one event. Hmm, have you heard this before?
• Eggs are back on the table. The  humble little egg got a bad rap for a number of years. Which is a shame because eggs are considered a complete protein.  This was due to  previous guidelines restricting the amount of dietary cholesterol one should consume per day. No more! New research now shows dietary cholesterol does not influence blood cholesterol but rather saturated fat sis the culprit.
• Sugar has been a buzz word lately. Well now we have some guidelines to go by when it comes to our sugar intake. Recommendations say to limit your added sugar intake to 10% of you total daily calories. So if you consume a 2,000 calorie diet, drinking just one can of regular soda will max out your daily added sugar intake.  Wow!
• One way of eating may not fit all. The guidelines recognize  there are many ways to consume a healthy eating pattern. So they’ve included three types of healthy eating patterns: Healthy US Style Eating Pattern, Healthy Mediterranean Style Eating Pattern and Healthy Vegetarian Style Eating Pattern.
• Fat is back. Finally the emphasis is on the type of fat consumed not the amount. What does this mean? It’s means watching your saturated fat intake and including all those heart-healthy “good fats” like nuts, avocado and olive oil. You can still have butter or bacon but every once in awhile. Remember, everything in moderation.

So while there are some positive changes, the core of the the recommendations have stayed the same – the importance of including fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, protein and oils. In other words, a healthy balanced diet.

Have you read the new guidelines? What do you think?