USDA Releases Revised Dietary Guidelines

by Paul Deaton

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the results of its mandated five year scientific review of its dietary guidelines. Robert Post, Deputy Director of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, appeared on C-Span's Washington Journal on Saturday and spoke about the report. (You can view the 46 minute segment here).

According to Post, “Today Americans are consuming far more calories from foods where there are empty calories, far more calories from foods that contain excess amounts of added sugars, and excess sodium as well as excess saturated fat. Certainly we need an improvement in the amount of fruits and vegetables, and whole grains and low fat milk and milk products in our diet.”

In addition to dietary guidelines, the study included a review of environmental factors that indicated children need less time in front of the television and more exercise. Said Post, “We advise in the physical activity guidelines that adults get about 150 minutes of physical activity a week, they don't. Children should get at least 60 minutes a day and that's to balance the calories in.”

So the short version: less added sugar, salt and saturated fat, more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy products and more physical activity, and creating a balance between calories consumed and energy expended. Sounds so simple.

~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend editor of Blog for Iowa. E-mail Paul Deaton