Today, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have been released. These guidelines are very important, since they serve as the basis for Federal food and nutrition education programs. They were created by a highly credible group of scientists and developed through a transparent process clearly detailed in this Mandate, Process, Timeline document. Consumers however, may perceive the Guidelines as confusing. 

The new Guidelines have a greater emphasis on weight control since roughly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. The report encourages the consumption of nutrient-rich foods including low-fat milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and nuts. They also emphasize the need to balance calories consumed with physical activity. Americans currently consume less than 20% of the recommended whole grains, less than 50% of the recommended fruits, and less than 60% of the recommended vegetables and dairy foods. The good news is that many of these foods are delicious, and consumers are encouraged to include a diverse range of foods from all food groups.  The positive focus on what foods consumers can include as daily choices offers a fresh perspective for education efforts.

Of course, the Dairy Council of California is interested in the recommendations for milk and dairy foods. The new Guidelines confirmed the importance of milk and milk products in a healthy diet by maintaining the 2005 recommendation to consume 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk or milk products daily for those ages 9 and older. Children ages 2-3 should consume 2 cups each day and children 4-8, 2.5 cups daily. Evidence shows intake of milk and milk products is linked to improved bone health, especially in children and adolescents, as well as a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes with lower blood pressure in adults. In fact, scientific studies published since the 2005 Guidelines strengthen the case for consuming adequate amounts of milk and milk products. Low-fat and fat-free dairy foods are highlighted as foods to increase.

Check back to our blog over the next month, since we will be adding additional blog posts to further detail the Guidelines and the role we can play to educate Americans on how to live healthy long lives through good nutrition and daily physical activity. We look forward to hearing from our customers and how they plan to integrate the new Dietary Guidelines in their nutrition education efforts.

Maureen Bligh

Registered Dietitian