Dietary Guidelines

 

The educational materials included on this page support the 2005 Dietary Guidelines. They are ideal for teachers, health and school nutrition professionals, parents and kids. Click on the title to display materials in PDF format. If you can't find what you're looking for, please email the Dairy Council of Utah and Nevada. 

 

Americans may be chronically overweight, but they’re also undernourished. They're not eating enough of the right foods—and to address this imbalance, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identified four key “Food Groups to Encourage” from the USDA’s MyPyramid: fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, and low-fat and fat-free milk or milk products.  For more on "Food Groups to Encourage" scroll to the article at end of this page.

2005 Dietary Guidelines 

A link to the official 2005 report and press releases.

Dietary Guidelines: Then and Now

A comparison of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2000 to 2005.

Food Groups to Encourage

A simple, one-page handout highlighting the food groups encouraged by The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System (MyPyramid). The handout highlights recommended servings, health benefits and how to include it in the diet by eating a variety of foods from these groups.  

Healthier Eating 2007 (English)
Healthier Eating 2007 (Spanish)

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends these food groups within MyPyramid as a good source of important nutrients that help provide the foundation for a healthier diet. The handout provides information on serving sizes, nutrition and food examples.

The two-sided handout is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Dietetic Association, the National Medical Association, the National Hispanic Medical Association and the National Dairy Council.

Knack for Snacks

After-school snack ideas and background.

Meal Plans

Use this plan as a guide to meet the recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and the Food Guidance System (MyPyramid). Each day averages 2,000 calories, but you can personalize the plan to 1,800, 1600, or 1,400 calories by using the "exercise" and/or "calories" saving ideas.

MyPyramid 

A link to MyPyramid.gov interactive website.

Role of Dairy Foods in the Dietary Guidelines

Milk products play a critical role in eating patterns designed to provide an adequate amount of nutrients.

“Food Groups to Encourage”  for the Right Start in Life

November, 2007

It’s well-known that too many American children are overweight. But just as troubling is the fact that many are also undernourished. Because kids do not eat enough of the right foods, they aren't getting enough of five key nutrients: calcium, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin E, and fiber, according to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

The guidelines identified four “Food Groups to Encourage” from the USDA’s MyPyramid: fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, and low-fat and fat-free milk or milk products. Encouraging kids to eat adequate quantities of these nutrient-dense foods can help ensure that they are getting balanced nutrition from their diets.

“When a child learns good eating habits, it can pave the way for better lifelong health,” says Nedra Christensen, PhD, RD, Utah State University. “Parents, schools, and the community – and especially healthcare providers – all have roles to play in teaching kids to make the right dietary choices.”

Dairy Foods: Rich in Nutrients, But Lacking in Some Diets

The dairy group, one of the highlighted food groups, is often underestimated as a source of key nutrients. Dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt are well-known as a source of calcium, but together, they also deliver potassium and magnesium – three of the five “nutrients of concern for children.”

A number of studies have shown that getting calcium is a key to building peak bone mass and preventing osteoporosis and fractures later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics calls dairy foods “preferred” sources of calcium compared to supplements and other foods.

According to the National Dairy Council, half of children ages 2 through 8 and three quarters of children ages 9 through 19 don’t get the recommended daily amount of milk or milk products. The 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that African-American children have lower intakes of calcium, magnesium, and potassium than children of other races and ethnicities. This is consistent with a recent finding that adolescent African-Americans eat and drink less dairy than non-African-Americans.

All children 2 to 8 years should get at least two cups a day of low-fat or fat-free milk or milk products and three cups a day once they turn 9. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends four dairy servings a day for adolescents. The first step to putting these guidelines into practice is to be aware of them – but 60 percent of parents don’t know how much calcium their kids are supposed to be getting.

A Doctor’s Influence – In and Out of the Office

For a physician, promoting healthy eating starts in the office. Asking patients about their eating habits, educating them about the importance of balanced nutrition, and recommending a healthy diet pattern that follows the 2005 DGA are all constructive steps a family healthcare provider can take. A doctor can also help by referring a patient to a registered dietitian when appropriate.

Outside the office, one way a physician can promote better nutrition is by partnering with non-profit organizations, industry-supported organizations, or government agencies that promote nutrition education. A nationally prominent group working along these lines is Action for Healthy Kids (www.actionforhealthykids.org), a public-private partnership of national organizations and government agencies that encourages healthy eating and physical activity in children and youth in schools. Action for Healthy Kids teams at the state and local level welcome doctors as expert volunteers.

“Sometimes, advice can be more effective when it comes from more than one source,” Dr. Christensen says. “What you tell people in your office may influence people more if they hear the message confirmed out in the community.”

Doctors can also make a difference by engaging with local schools. One option is to encourage the local district to form a partnership with Action for Healthy Kids or a similar organization. A physician’s voice may also carry influence when a community’s schools feature unhealthy choices in a lunch program, or are weighing a beverage contract with a vendor whose products are high in sugar and low in nutrients.

Poor nutrition in American children isn’t only a behavior gap; it’s a knowledge gap. Because of their expertise and the respect they command in their communities, health professionals have an important role to play in closing that gap and steering kids onto a healthier path through education, guidance and active involvement.