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Nutrition Standards

Nutrition

An unhealthy diet serves as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and related chronic diseases. In Georgia, the prevalence of such chronic conditions are at an all-time high with nutritious food consumption at a low. Recent surveys found 1 in 5 high school students, and 1 in 4 adults, consume the minimum recommendation of 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Through making the healthier choices in diet and encouraging others we can prevent and control chronic diseases in Georgia.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Focused on encouraging health and reducing risk of disease through good nutrition and physical activity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked together to develop evidenced based nutritional guidelines known as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2015-2020.

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize 5 overarching guidelines for Americans which include:

  1. Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan.
  2. Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount.
  3. Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake.
  4. Shift to healthier food and beverage choices.
  5. Support healthy eating patterns for all.

Recommendations

  • Consume a healthy eating pattern for all foods and beverages.
    • Fruits, especially whole fruits
    • Variety of vegetables, such as dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), and starchy
    • Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
    • Fat-free or low-fat dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
    • Variety of protein, such as seafood, lean meats and poultry, legumes, eggs, nuts, seeds, and soy products
    • Oils
  • Limit consuming foods for a healthy eating pattern.
    • Saturated fats and trans fats, sodium (salt), and added sugars

Want to find out more on how to make the healthy choice? Check out the The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 guide.

Additional Resources

Eat Right. Academy of Nutrition

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Georgia Farm to School

Georgia Organics

Growing Fit Kit: Wellness Policies for Georgia's Early Care Environments

Harvard Healthy Eating Plate

National Farm to School

Physical Activity and Nutrition Toolkit: For Georgia Public Schools and School Districts

Shape Healthy Recipes

United Stated Department of Agriculture

Work Healthy Georgia Toolkit

 

 

 

 

Page last updated 9/14/2017